Glenbrae House is situated on Crawford Lane, behind Inverkip Church off Langhouse Road - a few yards from the village Main Street and it's amenities (see Map). The old village and new Harbourside development at the Kip Marina are linked by a walkway over the intersecting A78 trunk road. Glenbrae House is just a few minutes walk from the Kip Marina and the shoreside or, if you prefer winding country roads and rolling pasture, you can follow Langhouse Road up into the countryside of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park behind Inverkip which are just a mile away.
Inverkip is a few miles from the towns of Greenock & Gourock and within 40 mins drive of Glasgow and its airport.
The village is serviced by regular bus and train services from Glasgow and Greenock and there are also ferry services across the Clyde Firth to the Isle of Bute and Dunoon from nearby Wemyss Bay & Gourock.
Inverkip
Inverkip is one of the oldest settlements in Inverclyde. The name comes from the Gaelic Inbhir Chip meaning 'Mouth of the Kip', the Kip Water being the river that flows into the harbour from Bridgend at the east end of the village.
The Auld Kirk, the first and oldest site of worship in Inverclyde, stands on the site established as the Parish of Inverkip by monks from Paisley Abbey over 800 years ago. The village gained notoriety in succeeding centuries as a smuggler's haven and haunt of witches - purportedly led by Baron Dunrod who resided in a castle at the foot of Dunrod Hill behind Inverkip and is recalled in local verse:
"In Innerkip the witches ride thick and in Dunrod they dwell,
but the greatest loon amang them a' is Auld Dunrod himsel."
Today the village is a very desirable locale with several historic buildings, modern and traditional housing within easy commute of Greenock and Glasgow. Recent housing developments have seen it expanding up into the wooded slopes behind the old village. The village boasts a variety of amenities including a Primary School, library, community centre, hotel, cafe, police station, fast food shop, post office, Sainsbury's Local, pharmacy and village shop.
A paradise for the yachting crowd - Kip Marina was created after Inverkip Bay was enlarged in the 1970s during the construction of the now mothballed Inverkip Power Station whose gigantic chimney dominates the local landscape. This is now Scotland's premier marina offering some of the most beautiful sailing waters in Europe. The marina offers berths for 600 boats of 80 ft+, a chandlery and restaurant.
Clyde Offshore Sailing Centre - 01475 521210 Yacht charter, RYA tuition and corporate entertaining.
Kip Watersports - 01475 521281 Tuition and boat charter for exploring the many shipwrecks of the Clyde.
Chart Room Restaurant - 01475 520919
Between the village and the nearby Clyde Estuary are the pastoral grounds of Ardgowan Estate. The mansion of Ardgowan House is situated near to the 16th Century ruins of Inverkip Castle which can still be seen at the end of the great lawn in front of Ardgowan House. A fort has been on this tree covered bluff since at least the 13th Century Wars of Independence, a little while before the lands were gifted to the Stewarts in the 14th Century by King Robert III (great grandson of Robert The Bruce). The estate is still owned by the Shaw Stewart family who also run Bankfoot Riding School for horse & pony trekking (01475 521390) and fly fishing on local lochs and the Kip River with Ardgowan Trout Fisheries (01475 522492).
Just off the M8 between Glasgow and Greenock near Langbank - this is the seat of the current chief of the Clan Macmillan. Woodland walks, formal garden, adventure playground, restored Victorian kitchen and laundry and extensive exhibitions of dolls, natural history and Celtic art.
A few miles behind the village's wooded glens and verdant pasture land is the Cornalees outdoor activity centre beside Loch Thom in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. From here you can enjoy a walk along Dunrod Hill to the Greenock Cut overlooking Spango Valley, enjoy woodland trails, wildlife exhibitions and outdoor activities like archery. The Cornalees Centre offers cafe, shop, parking and toilet facilities.