Getting to know… Troon

The latest instalment of our spotlight series takes us to Troon, a stunningly scenic seaside town on Scotland’s west coast.

Troon is nestled in south Ayrshire and overlooks the Isle of Arran. It boasts a brilliantly bustling harbour, famed for its fish market, and is home to many wonderful seafood restaurants.

The town is also a well-established golfing hotspot, and is a magnet for tourists. Its magnificent sea views and sandy beaches also make Troon a popular destination for families and fans of water sports.

So if you’re one of the thousands of home-movers planning a change of scenery, we’d love to show you why Troon could be your next move.

We’ve spoken to two local estate agents who know the town better than most, to reveal what Troon is really like.

In this article, we hope to highlight the best that the area has to offer, and why, if you’re planning a move out of the city, you might want to consider this thriving market town.

So what are the main things you need to know?

Average asking price: £175,486

Average asking price, three-bedroom house: £152,617

Average asking price, two-bedroom flat: £121,187

Average asking rent: £577

Location: Roughly a 45-minute drive southwest of Glasgow

Interesting fact: It’s home to Royal Troon Golf Club, which has hosted The Open nine times

What’s currently on offer?

What do the local agents say?

Fraser Stewart, director at Donald Ross in Ayr, said: “Troon is a gorgeous seaside town that’s absolutely steeped in rich sporting heritage and people from all over Scotland, and south of the border, are wanting to move here.

“People want to be beside the seaside, and I think lockdown has made people ask a lot of questions about their own residential situation. In Troon, we’ve got a whole lot more space on offer than in the cities, and if you’re the sort of person who likes to exercise, would you rather do it surrounded by concrete or where you’re right on top of the beach and lovely green spaces?

 “Troon, historically, has been very popular with retirees but what we’re finding now is that people aren’t waiting until retirement to move. People are thinking: why not now? We’ve been incredibly busy since the market reopened.

“Sport is a big thing in these parts, but golf in particular is huge. Troon has probably got more golf courses, both municipal and private, than any other town in Scotland. With The Open being held here as well, it’s a massively attractive thing for a place like Troon to have.

“But rugby is a big deal here, too, and the success story of Marr Rugby Club has definitely built a strong sense of community. Over the last five or six years, it’s gone from being an amateur outfit to playing in the Scottish first division and Marr’s colours – purple and gold – are synonymous with Troon. Everywhere you go, you see purple and gold and that’s just the way it is.

“Kids start playing at four-years-old and play right through to adulthood, so rugby has a huge cultural effect on people and the community has really bought into it and that sense of togetherness.

“We also have beautiful beaches in Troon. It’s the nicest stretch of beach in Ayrshire and it helps that it’s pedestrianised. For years, holidaymakers and day-trippers have been getting off the train at Troon rather than carrying on to Prestwick or Ayr, and I truly believe it’s because of the beaches.

“The housing in Troon is really mixed. We’ve sold at £1.3million but also 2-bed houses at £100,000. We’ve got some of Ayrshire’s most expensive properties but also really affordable housing. There are homes for everyone in Troon.

“The final thing to say is that the town centre still has lots of green spaces, which can’t be said for a lot of town centres nowadays. There are lots of lovely pubs and restaurants to explore, too.

Mel Connelly, branch manager at Glow Homes Letting & Sales, in Ayrshire, added: “Troon is the jewel of Ayrshire, it’s a truly beautiful part of Scotland and it’s always been a very popular place to live. We see lots of people selling their big houses in Edinburgh and Glasgow to retire down in Troon – and if you’ve ever visited you’ll know why people would choose to spend the rest of their lives there.

“There are so many little boutique shops and wonderful seafood restaurants dotted about the place. They all give Troon a real sense of identity and it feels like you’ve landed somewhere that’s unique. The beaches are amazing, too, and there aren’t many undesirable areas of Troon. There’s a great sense of community in the town and the people are very friendly and very welcoming.

“There’s a real mix of young families and retirees that move here. We’ve got great schools so that’s why it’s a great place to raise a family, but the views are fantastic and there are lots of outdoor activities that people can do, both in and out of the water.

“Of course, there’s Royal Troon Golf Club as well, which brings in a lot of tourism. Lots of famous people visit the golf course and with it hosting The Open Championship every few years it’s definitely a place that’s on the map and that people know about.

“Recently we’ve been so busy, we just haven’t stopped. We’ve actually seen lots of interest over the past few weeks from buyers down south, not just from Glasgow and Edinburgh. We’ve had one particular property on the market for nine months and it hasn’t had a whole lot of interest, but in the past four weeks it’s had an influx of viewings and is starting to get offers.

“I think people are starting to realise just how attractive life by the sea can be.”

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