Balcreuchan Port

and the Isle of Arran in the background]] The name 'Port' is indicative of its use, and Balcreuchan is Gaelic, with the first 'Bal' part meaning a farmstead. A farm of that name is shown slightly inland from the port. The 'creuchan' may be from crìochan, 'borders' or 'bounds' as in Na Crìochan, 'the Borders', and Na Garbh Chrìochan - 'the rough bounds/Highlands'. The Balcreuchan Burn runs to the coast just east of the port up to the area of Knockormal Hill and the 'Lochton' place names suggest a more substantial flow at one time. Alexander Peden was a famous Ayrshire Covenanter minister who had been captured at a conventicle near remote Knockdow not far from Balcreuchan Port and sentenced…

It is described as a "Small Creek or indentation of the sea Coast where there is a Small flat beach. Composed of Shingle & boulders." Port Vad nearby has a similar record but it was more exposed to wind and wave action. The nearby enclosure suggests that the bay may have been inhabited during the summer months by fishermen. The transport of stock and materials such as lime for the fields are not on record for the bay.