Troon (Scottish Gaelic: An Truthail / An t-Sròn) is a town and sea port in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about eight miles (thirteen kilometres) north of Ayr and three miles (five kilometres) northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

[1] This is similar to the Gaelic name of Stranraer (An t-Sròn Reamhar, the fat nose), which lies further south on the coast.

This was not licensed for passengers, a minor technicality evaded by weighing those wishing to travel and charging them freight rates.

[11] The artist's impression and the theoretical master plan for Troon that the Duke of Portland had drawn up was almost on as grand a scale, relative to its size, as that of Edinburgh's New Town.

The broad streets with a grid network and ample space for civic amenities created for a thriving community built around the industry of the harbour.

To the right a smaller spire indicates Portland Street United Free Church, which sat behind where WH Smith is today.[when?]

It was the Glasgow and South Western Railway in 1892 who altered this plan by building a loop to bring passengers closer to the beach and town.

The park never came to pass but public spaces on the promenade, (where the bandstand was built), the ballast bank and Fullarton ground allow residents and visitors scope for leisure.

The entrance route had been changed by the Duke of Portland and the house design altered so that the back became the front, with grand views opened up of the Isle of Arran and Firth of Clyde.

[12] Alanus de Fowlertoun was in possession of the lands shortly before his death in 1280 and the family continued in a nearly unbroken line from father to son.

[12] He wrote in 1793 the seminal A General View of the Agriculture in the County of Ayr and was one of the few on record to praise Robert Burns's skills as a farmer, commenting favourably on a method of dishorning cattle which the poet had demonstrated.

Tradition claims that the roof blew off on the day in 1759 that Robert Burns was born and it was left to become a ruin.

[13] Constructed on the site of the original chapel, the name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'Crossbye', signifying the dwelling of the cross; a fairly common placename.

The cemetery dates from circa 1240 and was held in secular times by Fullarton of Crosbie in the 14th century after being passed on from relatives.

[15] The chapelry of Crosbie, together with that of Richardstoun (Riccartoun) were attached to Dundonald and were granted by the second Walter Stewart to the short-lived Gilbertine Convent which he had founded at Dalmulin before 1228.

Up until 2015, P&O Ferries operated seasonal sailings with the high speed catamaran HSC Express: the term 'SeaCat' is often used to refer to the P&O service.

Troon is served by one secondary school, Marr College, which is operated by South Ayrshire Council.

Troon is perhaps most famous for its golf courses, but there is also a healthy sporting culture in other disciplines such as windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Both the men and woman's teams compete in the top tier of the Scottish Handball Association league system.

The club also has a thriving junior section that is coached by men's first team player Chris Kerr.

[34] The club was formed in 1983 by 3 'ageing' players, at which time they were named Troon Burns A.F.C., and have now surpassed their 30th season in the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association.

During this time they have had a few name changes, sometimes due to sponsorship commitments, but in 1998/99 season, they settled on Troon Amateurs Football Club.