For the former Canadian federal electoral district, see Saltcoats (electoral district)

Saltcoats is a small town located on the west coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland. It has a population of around 14,000. Its name comes from its history as a salt mining town, and is a shortened form of "The Salt Workers' Cottages".

Lying between the towns of Stevenston and Ardrossan, it forms part of the Three-Towns conurbation, an informal reference aluding to the fact that the three towns are so close together that, unless you are, or have been a local resident it can be difficult to tell where one town ends and another one begins. In actual fact, Saltcoats sits north of Stevenston, the boundary being an old railway bridge that is now used as a footpath, adjacent to the Auchenharvie swimming pool. The northerly boundary with Ardrossan is the burn through the Holm Plantation.

Before jet transport transformed the aspirations of the Scottish working class, Saltcoats was a popular holiday destination for Glaswegians during the summer months.

Further reading

• McSherry, R&M (1995) Old Saltcoats

External link

• The Unofficial Saltcoats Home Page

Seaside resorts in Scotland | Towns in North Ayrshire