Finding private transportation in Glasgow

How about a compromise?

Take the train from Glasgow to Ayr (about an hour and £12/way per person) then taxi (25 min £25-40/way plus waiting time) to Thomaston Castle. Discuss the coastline route with the driver.

There are several taxi companies in Ayr.

jeanm's idea is good. The train down to Ayr from Glasgow is a good frequent service and doesn't take all that long (in my opinion) if you're leaving from the city centre. Our regular contributor Stuart may have some ideas for buses.

I don't think your idea of finding a willing local is going to fly. It's not the sort of thing I'd expect many folks to want to do for a stranger. Maybe there's Facebook groups where someone could volunteer? I don't know for sure.

When I was around Glasgow the private hire taxis I'd often use were Hampden Cabs. They've rebranded as GlasGo, but get terrible reviews on Google. I'll link anyway. https://glasgocabs.co.uk/online-booking/

Like jeanm said, your best bet is a train then private hire taxi in Ayr. I'd imagine most Ayr cab companies will come out to Culzean Castle or Dunure within a few minutes for a pick up. It's not far. Any railway station staff or pub barstaff in Ayr will help find a local cab company number, or just Google one.

The bus passes Thomaston, but doesn't stop between Culzean and Kirkoswald and you wouldn't want to walk from the Culzean bus stop.

However what about getting a train to Maybole (a Girvan or Stranraer bound train)?

There is no taxi rank at the station, but a couple of local taxi companies you could pre-order from. It's a 4 1/2 mile ride each way from there, and if you have a bit of time to spare Maybole is a not uninteresting little town. Next to the station is the Carrick Centre- which has a nice little cafe, open from 9 to 2 on weekdays I believe. I had to go to Maybole recently (got sent there by the office, as opposed to being a matter of choice), and was quite impressed by the wee cafe. It was unexpected.

THANKS SO MUCH! These are wonderful and encouraging ideas particularly respecting$. I found a Rabbies Ayrshire tour but it doesn’t get back to Glasgow in time for meeting my tour group. Both train options sound good Maybole or Ayr. I may have seen reference to some McIlvaines in Maybole but doubt there will be time or wisdom to seek out (lol).

Robin, there are a couple Facebook groups for Maybole and the McIlvain Clan that you've probably come across.

I would reach out to them and let them know you'll be in the area. You might make a connection.

Facebook Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland

30 some years ago, before the days of Facebook and personal email, my husband sent a letter to: The Macxxxs of wee hamlet, Sutherland, UK. We were surprised the letter was answered by a 3rd cousin once removed. This led to years of exchanging letters and meeting more cousins on visits to Scotland.

Good luck in finding your roots!

Good suggestions! I need to decide whether to take train to Ayr or Maybole. Any thoughts? I think we’d get going early depending on train schedule. Considerations are time and ease getting cab onwards to Thomaston. I don’t imagine there is much to see there but a good ancestral photo op. I’ve heard Dunure Castle is good for view of coastline so would hope for driver to take there and stay with us to return to Culzean for a wee longer tourist stop. Then new cab back to train (Ayr or Maybole) to return to Glasgow. We have to be back to hotel to meet tour group at 1630. If there is time is it worth it to go to Robert Burns cottage? Or any other recommendations? Thanks

The McIlvaines were apparently linked to Maybole Collegiate Church- now a Historic Environment Scotland Site- since Covid it has been closed due to masonry repairs, but you could get the taxi to do a drive past and quick stop. Before that you used to collect the key from Crossraguel Abbey- a much more complete Abbey a couple of miles away, that you do not have the time to visit.
Maybole does have a mainly hourly train, with some gaps- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/74364/download?inline

Robin, try contacting a few of the taxi companies in both Ayr and Maybole. Maybe you can work out a mini tour with one of them.