Coastal Cities, Towns, Villages A – Z

Ilfracombe is an historic harbour town that is situated on the coast of North Devon, bordering the Bristol Channel. It is made up of many beautiful pastel-coloured townhouses that sprawl their way up large hillslopes that overlook the harbour. The oldest street in the town is Fore Street, which winds its way up the hill, closely flanked by tightly-packed buildings on either side, many of which are 14th and 15th Century in age. This includes the George and Dragon pub, which opened in around 1360 and is still running today. Various other pubs, cafes and restaurants are also located here. Many three-storey terraced buildings overlook the harbour, which is filled with numerous yachts and trawlers. The adjacent coastline is incredibly dramatic, with large rugged cliffs rising up from the shoreline. Wildersmouth Beach is located along the town’s coastal edge – this is a large cove that is filled with numerous rocks, and is flanked by large cliffs on both sides. Capstone Hill – also situated along Ilfracombe’s coastline – provides great 360-degree views of the town, and of the incredible rugged seascape along the North Devon coast.

Innellan is a large linear village that stretches along the eastern side of the Cowal Peninsula, overlooking the Firth of Clyde and the hills of Inverclyde on the other side. It is a pleasant village bordered by wooded slopes, with a line of cottages, a few townhouses and a couple of pubs facing onto the rocky shore. It grew as a popular resort in the Victorian era, with many of its cottages and semi-detached houses being built in the 19th Century.

The village of Instow is located on the eastern side of the Torridge Estuary, just before it merges with the River Taw, and flows as one short channel to the open sea. It is a rather pleasant seaside village, with pretty townhouses that face onto the estuary. Several stores are located in the village, selling local produce, as well as a café and a choice of three pubs. Instow is made even prettier by its lovely beach of sand that stretches along the coast, part of which is backed by a row of sand dunes. The Tarka Trail, a scenic long-distance footpath and cycle route, runs through the village, along the course of a long-abandoned railway line. Both the platform and signal box, which were once part of Instow railway station, remain despite the railway’s closure.

The small village of Inver is situated on the southern side of Inver Bay, an inlet on the Dornoch Firth. A quiet village, it is mostly made up of a collection of bungalows; a small pub named The Inver Inn is also located here. The foothills of the Scottish Highlands can be seen to the north and west of the village.

Like Lower Diabaig, Inveralligin is another remote hamlet that clings to the side of a steep hill, although much of it is built along the shore of Upper Loch Torridon. It is backed by Tom na Gruagaich – a towering 922 metre (3,024 foot) high peak – with a spectacular view of many other Highland mountains, which dominate the landscape on the other side of the loch. It is a rather quiet settlement, with a row of cottages that curves around a small pebbly bay.

The conjoined villages of Inverallochy and Cairnbulg lie at the tip of Cairnbulg Point, a headland that protrudes into the North Sea. The area has a rich fishing heritage, and although many of the people living here today do not work in the fishing trade, rows of 19^th Century-built single-storey cottages remain to this day. Inverallochy forms the centre of both villages, and contains a handful of shops, including a Post Office. A rocky beach borders the settlement, with rockpools exposed during low tide.

The former royal burgh of Inveraray sits on the north-western banks of Loch Fyne, with fine views of the mountains of Argyll across the water. Although it is considered to be a town, its compact centre and small population of around 600 means that it feels rather village-like. Established in 1745 by the Duke of Argyll, it is an incredibly picturesque settlement, with a neoclassical church, a jail and a courthouse which are open as a museum, and a stone-built bell tower. A collection of pretty white-painted terraced cottages and townhouses make up Inveraray, with independent shops and a range of hotels located in and around the settlement. However, a visit would be incomplete without visiting Inveraray Castle – a glorious and turreted stately home which forms the main seat of Clan Campbell. Both the home and its beautiful gardens are open to visitors.

Despite being the largest settlement on the Isle of Raasay, Inverarish is a rather small village located on the south-western part of the island. A short row of traditional white-washed terraced cottages, along with a collection of bungalows, makes up much of the village, although a shop is also located here. Raasay Gallery, which showcases a range of different paintings, is also located here. The village is flanked by large patches of woodland, adding a great deal of greenery to the area.

Resting on the shores of Bervie Bay, the small town of Inverbervie is located in south-eastern Aberdeenshire. It is a quiet town that is surrounded by rural countryside, rocky cliffs and coastal hillslopes. A pebble beach makes up much of the town’s shore, with outcrops of rugged rocks placed to the south of the bay. A coastal footpath links the town with the village of Gourdon, making for a scenic coastal walk on top of the cliffs. A high street makes up the town centre, flanked by stone-clad cottages, townhouses, and a range of shops. The Crown Hotel is placed on the high street, and a lovely mansion named Hallgreen Castle – which is also used as a hotel – overlooks Bervie Bay. The A92 road runs through the town, crossing the Bervie Water – a babbling stream flanked by steep slopes – via a beautifully-designed bridge.

A collection of fairly modern bungalows makes up much of Inverboyndie, a hamlet located around 2 km (1.2 miles) to the west of Banff. It is situated next to a pleasant sandy beach that borders Boyndie Bay, one of few stretches of sand on the northern Aberdeenshire coast.

The small port town of Invergordon lies on the western side of the Cromarty Firth. With a busy port and oil rig repairing facility, it is known as an industrial town, but retains a traditional charm, with a wide high street flanked by stone-built townhouses. A cluster of shops, cafes and restaurants can be found in the town centre, with Indian and Chinese food available here, along with a traditional fish and chip shop. The Invergordon Museum, which features a range of displays about the town’s history, including what living in the town was like during the First and Second World War, is located in the town. A road runs along the coast, providing great views across the Cromarty Firth – the hills of the Black Ness peninsula rise on the other side, with a large gap where the firth connects with the North Sea. A beach of sand makes up the shore that borders the north-eastern part of the town.

The large village of Invergowrie is located on the northern side of the Firth of Tay. Despite its close proximity to the city of Dundee, Invergowrie is a rather quiet village with a pleasant, suburban feel to it. A decent swathe of natural scenery surrounds Invergowrie, including pockets of coastal woodland, rural farmland and a nature reserve filled with paths, trees and wildflowers named Riverside Nature Park.

Despite being a rather small village, Inverie is the largest settlement in mainland Britain that is not connected to the road network. Access to the village is only possible by a ferry from Mallaig, or a 27 km (17 mile) long hike over rough and mountainous terrain. Understandably, Inverie is a rather quiet village of small cottages, placed in a line along the shore of Loch Nevis. The surrounding scenery is spectacular, with the towering peaks of the Knoydart Peninsula flanking the coast, interspersed with patches of wild woodland. The rugged coast of North Morar is visible on the other side of the loch.

The small port town of Invergordon lies on the western side of the Cromarty Firth. With a busy port and oil rig repairing facility, it is known as an industrial town, but retains a traditional charm, with a wide high street flanked by stone-built townhouses. A cluster of shops, cafes and restaurants can be found in the town centre, with Indian and Chinese food available here, along with a traditional fish and chip shop. The Invergordon Museum, which features a range of displays about the town’s history, including what living in the town was like during the First and Second World War, is located in the town. A road runs along the coast, providing great views across the Cromarty Firth – the hills of the Black Ness peninsula rise on the other side, with a large gap where the firth connects with the North Sea. A beach of sand makes up the shore that borders the north-eastern part of the town.

Inverkip is a large village situated on the western edge of Inverclyde. It consists of two areas: an old village centred on a main street, and a large marina flanked by modern apartments. Although much of the village is made up of suburban-style residential homes, the centre is rather charming, with a high street flanked by traditional cottages and a few shops. A couple of hotels are located near the village centre. The marina is placed just to the north of the village – it is rather popular for pleasure sailing, with many yachts and sailboats moored here. Many modern homes and apartments overlook the marina. Inverkip is also rather pleasant for its surrounding scenery, with woodland and rolling hills flanking the village, and great views across the Firth of Clyde.

The tiny hamlet of Inverlussa is located at the head of Lussa Bay, a lovely inlet that is flanked by coastal woodland, rocky shores, and includes a small sandy beach next to the hamlet. A few cottages make up much of Inverlussa, tucked away against a wooded hillslope. The hamlets of Lussagiven and Ardlussa are located nearby; the latter is also placed next to lush woodland, and links to a small rocky cove.

The quiet hamlet of Inverneill is located around 6.5 km (4 miles) to the south of Lochgilphead, with Kilbrannan Sound to its east, and the hills and forests of Knapdale to the west. Made up of a few cottages and detached houses, it sits on the side of a rocky shore, bordered by patches of coastal woodland. A bunkhouse is located in the hamlet, making it an ideal base from which to walk and hike the surrounding landscape.

Equidistant from both Stevenson and Troon, the town of Irvine is located a stone’s throw away from Ayrshire’s coastline, near the lovely sandy shores of Irvine Bay. A varied town, it includes a high street and shopping centre, an old quayside area, and a scenic beach park. The town centre is home to a range of cafes, food outlets, a pub named The Carrick, and Rivergate Shopping Centre. The estuaries of the River Irvine and River Garnock meet to the west of the town – here, a quayside flanked by old buildings lines one side of the water. This part of Irvine is particularly attractive, with rows of painted cottages and stone-clad townhouses. One of the branches of the Scottish Maritime Museum is located here, within an old shipyard building, and a small arts centre faces onto the quay. Irvine Beach Park separates the town from the bay, and includes a boating lake and a row of grass-covered sand dunes that offer great views across the Firth of Clyde. A beach of fine golden sand makes up the shore.

One of the most southerly settlements in Scotland, the Isle of Whithorn is a picturesque village that lies around 3 km (2 miles) to the north-east of Burrow Head, the tip of the Machars Peninsula. Despite its name, the village is placed completely on the Scottish mainland. It is clustered around a small rocky bay, and includes a harbour, along with rows of old, white-painted cottages that face onto the shore. The ruins of St Ninian’s Chapel, which was built in the 13^th Century, are located just outside of the village.