Discover Ayrshire and Arran
Exploring Ayrshire and Arran
With a mixture of wide sandy beaches, cliffs and rocky coves, the Ayrshire coastline looks out towards the Isles of Arran and Bute and enjoys a fine, mild climate fanned by the warm currents of the Gulf stream. Like so many parts of Scotland, Ayrshire is excellent for walking and the area is renowned for its superb championship golf courses, as well as boasting a wealth of historic landmarks to seek out, including lots of castles and ancient strongholds.
Often described as ‘Scotland in miniature’, the scenic island of Arran, caught between the Ayrshire coast and the Kintyre Peninsula, has been a popular holiday resort for generations of Clydesiders, with excellent opportunities for outdoor activities around the island.
The Highland Boundary Fault runs through the island, and while the mountain of Goatfell dominates the skyline to the north, the south is much more level. The granite northern peaks are home to red deer, unique vegetation and raptors, while the narrow coastal plain has typically Hebridean raised beaches, on which tiny clachan (hamlet) settlements have developed, many now in ruins after the infamous Highland Clearances of the 19th century.
East Ayrshire encompasses the towns of Kilmarnock, Cumnock, New Cumnock and Stewarton. The county is home to a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the form of lochs, glens rivers and uplands. The area’s first Local Nature Reserve at Catrine Voes makes an ideal location to spot local wildlife in their natural habitat such as Atlantic Salmon, water voles, otters, kingfishers and heron.
