1 903-1 904.] West Kilbride and North Ayrshire Coast. 115 



Cross — may probably have been derived from a cross set up 

 in a prominent position near the little harbour, either to mark 

 the boundary of the temple-lands, or as the symbol of posses- 

 sion by the Templars or Hospitallers. The old castle of 

 Portincross, formerly known as "Arnele," has frequently been 

 honoured by royal visitors, who probably found it a convenient 

 resting-place in the course of their journeyings between Dun- 

 donald and Eothesay or other places in the west country. 

 Several charters of Eobert II. and Eobert III. bear to have 

 been granted at Arnele. The island of Little Cumbrae, which 

 lies westward from Portincross, was once maintained as a royal 

 deer-forest. It was occasionally visited by the early Stewart 

 kings, and some of their charters were granted on the island. 

 On the eastern shore of Little Cumbrae stands a ruined castle 

 which is very similar in appearance to that of Portincross. 

 Coming down to more recent times, we learn that one of the 

 ships of the ill-fated Spanish Armada was driven out of its 

 course and sank off Portincross in about ten fathoms water. 

 In 1740 the wreck was visited by a diver, who succeeded in 

 raising several guns of brass and iron. One of the latter still 

 finds an appropriate resting-place on the green beside the 

 castle. It is said to measure 8f feet in length, 18 inches 

 in diameter at the top, and 12 inches at the mouth. An 

 interesting account of the operation of raising these guns is 

 contained in the fourth volume of Defoe's " Tour." 



After leaving Portincross, the road passes through a large 

 trap-dyke at a place where a cutting has been specially made 

 for the purpose. At this point a number of interesting plants 

 occur on the rocks near the sea, including sea campion (Sile^ie 

 maritwia), bloody crane's-bill (Geranmm sangxdneum), Scot- 

 tish lovage (Ligusticum scoticum), crow garlic {Allium vineale), 

 Uromyces behcnis, Parmelia caperata, &c. From here onward 

 for nearly a mile the view is very fine. On the one side, 

 between the path and the sea, is a continuous line of sand- 

 stone rocks, many of which have been weathered into fantastic 

 shapes. On the other side there is a narrow stretch of culti- 

 vated ground, bordered by a steep wooded bank, above which 

 the sea-cliffs rise abruptly to a height of from 300 to 400 

 feet, so as to form the precipitous headland known as Ardneil 

 Bank, and referred to in old writings as Goldberrie Head. 

 The highest portion divides into three bold precipices known 



