West Kilbride and adjoining districts of Seamill and Portencross are generally considered to be a small town, having a combined population of 4,393 at the 2001 census.

[4] Traces of an Iron Age fortification were uncovered when the house named "The Fort" was constructed in Ardrossan Road, Seamill.

[5] West Kilbride is generally believed to be named after the ancient Celtic Saint Brigid of Kildare, often known as St Bride.

[6] The name suggests there was once a cell or kil to Brigid in the area, although local legend has her visit to establish her church around 500 AD (the landing point was supposedly in front of the now Seamill Hydro).

A campaign to save Portencross Castle from private ownership received national publicity in July 2004 when it was featured on the BBC's Restoration television programme.

Since the town became linked by rail to Glasgow in 1878, it began to attract more visitors, particularly to the Hydropathic spa at Seamill and its neighbouring sandy beach.

West Kilbride forms part of the constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran, electing one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

The seafront at Seamill features a long sandy beach, as well as rocky outcrops including the small harbour at Portencross.

These grow well locally, thanks to the use as fertiliser of the abundant supply of seaweed conveniently deposited on the nearby shore by winter storms.

[23] Other crops grown include sweetcorn (for cattle food), barley, root vegetables and summer berries, especially strawberries.

[25] Through the endeavours of the local initiative group, West Kilbride is now achieving fame as the "Craft Town Scotland".

[26] In September 2006, West Kilbride Craft Town won the Department of Trade and Industry's "Enterprising Britain 2006" competition.

Presenting the award, Alistair Darling MP praised the resourcefulness and dedication of the West Kilbride community.

Held on the first Friday of December every year, this is a Christmas event where shops open late as a procession of children and adults follow Santa to the village hall.

Music, stalls and children's fairground rides are set up on Main Street and adjoining Glen Road, which are closed to traffic for the evening.

The purpose of the Scarecrow Festival is to foster community spirit and civic pride within West Kilbride and its surrounding area.

It celebrates West Kilbride's origins as an agricultural community, while looking to the future through the "Craft Town Scotland" initiative.

Overton Church website St. Bride's is a small Roman Catholic chapel, on the north side of Hunterston Road, with a large garden behind it.

Since the late 1990s the Hall has been run by a dedicated Management Group as part of the highly successful West Kilbride Community Initiative.

It is hoped that during 2012 with the full support of the Initiative and local Council the Hall will proceed to separate charitable status as a SCIO.

This deficiency was remedied on 3 June 2001 (the Sunday nearest D-Day), when the memorial was re-dedicated with four new granite stones listing the names.

The newer school has exactly 465 pupils The community centre in Corse Street houses many local groups and organisations including bridge, photo, snooker and music clubs, the local cub scouts, computer classes, yoga classes, and the North Ayrshire Music School.

West Kilbride railway station lies on the Ayrshire Coast Line between Largs and Glasgow Central.

There are half-hourly buses northwards to Largs and Greenock, and southwards to Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Irvine and Ayr.