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Ayrshire
Ayrshire, Scotland
Ayrshire is a maritime county, lying along the east shore of the Firth of Clyde. Ayrshire is one of the most agriculturally fertile regions of Scotland, the main produce being potatoes and other root vegetables, summer fruits, pork and cattle. The county used to be heavily industrialised, with steel making, coal mining and in Kilmarnock numerous examples of production-line manufacturing, most famously Johnnie Walker whisky. Scotland's aviation industry has long been based in and around Prestwick and its international airport. The county is traditionally divided into the districts of Cunninghame, Kyle and Carrick. The districts predate Ayrshire itself but became bailieries of the county in the Middle Ages. Ayrshire became a sheriffdom in 1221.
Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 55.438798,-4.441471
Grid Reference: NS456188
Country: Scotland
Explore Ayrshire on Wikishire
The district of Cunninghame lies north of the River Irvine. Largs is a popular seaside resort with a pier. In 1263 it was the site of the Battle of Largs between the Norwegian and the Scottish armies. Next to the sea at Portencross harbour lies the 14th-century Portencross Castle. The 15th-century Law Castle is situated on Law Hill on the edge of the village of West Kilbride. The resort town of Saltcoats has a long industrial history. Though its traditional industries have declined, its beautiful sandy beach makes it a popular destination for holiday makers and daytrippers.
Portencross Castle
The town of Irvine lies on the north bank of the River Irvine. Despite being classed as a new town, Irvine has a history stretching back many centuries and was classed as a Royal Burgh. To its north is the historic town of Kilwinning, on the banks of the River Garnock. Kilwinning has many buildings of architectural significance, including the mediæval Abbot Adam's Bridge. Dalgarven Mill, in the Garnock Valley near Kilwinning, is home to the Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume. The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton, Eglinton Castle is located just south of Kilwinning.
Kilmarnock is the largest town in Ayrshire. The core of the early town appears to have lain around what is now the Laigh Kirk (Low Church). Previously a modest settlement, Kimarnock grew with the textile industry after 1800, with formal planned developments. John Finnie Street is one of the finest Victorian planned streets in Scotland.
John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock
The ruins of Auchenharvie Castle stand in a prominent position near the village of Torranyard. A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, ruinous since the 1770s. The Thurgatstane or Ogrestane is a famous stone near Dunlop. It has long been associated with pagan ritual practices. The ancient Dunlop Carlin stone is on the other side of the village.
The district of Kyle lies in the centre of the shire, south of the River Irvine and north of the River Doon. The port town of Troon is famous for the Royal Troon Golf Club. Prestwick also has a golfing heritage, Prestwick Old Course being the first home of the Open Championship. Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is famed for Elvis Presley's two hour stopover in 1960.
The county town, Ayr, has been a popular tourist resort since the expansion of the railway in 1840 owing to the town's fine beach and its links to golf and Robert Burns. The village of Alloway is famous as the birthplace of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. Burns Cottage (NTS) lies in the heart of the village. The late mediæval bridge, Brig o' Doon, celebrated in the climax of Burns' Tam o' Shanter, crosses the Doon in the south of the village. The Burns monument is nearby.
The Brig o' Doon, Alloway
Inland is Cumnock, a former mining town with a strong socialist tradition. Keir Hardie's father lived here, and a statue of him sits outside the town hall.
The district of Carrick lies south of the River Doon. Maybole, its historic capital, has Middle Ages roots. For generations it remained under the suzerainty of the Kennedys, later the Marquesses of Ailsa, the most powerful family in Ayrshire. Culzean Castle (NTS), formerly the family seat, stands on the coast within a country park. It was constructed as an L-plan castle by order of the David Kennedy between 1777 to 1792. Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, near Maybole. Robert the Bruce spent his childhood at the castle and may have been born there.
Culzean Castle
Girvan, on the Carrick coast, originally a fishing port, is now also a seaside resort. The Galloway Hills intrude into Ayrshire, giving Carrick some wonderful rugged hill country. Out in the Firth, the conspicuous rock of Ailsa Craig provides a home for a huge numbers of gannets and other seabirds.
Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 55.438798,-4.441471
Grid Reference: NS456188
Country: Scotland
Explore Ayrshire on WikishireThe district of Cunninghame lies north of the River Irvine. Largs is a popular seaside resort with a pier. In 1263 it was the site of the Battle of Largs between the Norwegian and the Scottish armies. Next to the sea at Portencross harbour lies the 14th-century Portencross Castle. The 15th-century Law Castle is situated on Law Hill on the edge of the village of West Kilbride. The resort town of Saltcoats has a long industrial history. Though its traditional industries have declined, its beautiful sandy beach makes it a popular destination for holiday makers and daytrippers.
Portencross Castle
The town of Irvine lies on the north bank of the River Irvine. Despite being classed as a new town, Irvine has a history stretching back many centuries and was classed as a Royal Burgh. To its north is the historic town of Kilwinning, on the banks of the River Garnock. Kilwinning has many buildings of architectural significance, including the mediæval Abbot Adam's Bridge. Dalgarven Mill, in the Garnock Valley near Kilwinning, is home to the Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume. The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton, Eglinton Castle is located just south of Kilwinning.
Kilmarnock is the largest town in Ayrshire. The core of the early town appears to have lain around what is now the Laigh Kirk (Low Church). Previously a modest settlement, Kimarnock grew with the textile industry after 1800, with formal planned developments. John Finnie Street is one of the finest Victorian planned streets in Scotland.
John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock
The ruins of Auchenharvie Castle stand in a prominent position near the village of Torranyard. A good deal remains of this typical tower castle, ruinous since the 1770s. The Thurgatstane or Ogrestane is a famous stone near Dunlop. It has long been associated with pagan ritual practices. The ancient Dunlop Carlin stone is on the other side of the village.
The district of Kyle lies in the centre of the shire, south of the River Irvine and north of the River Doon. The port town of Troon is famous for the Royal Troon Golf Club. Prestwick also has a golfing heritage, Prestwick Old Course being the first home of the Open Championship. Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is famed for Elvis Presley's two hour stopover in 1960.
The county town, Ayr, has been a popular tourist resort since the expansion of the railway in 1840 owing to the town's fine beach and its links to golf and Robert Burns. The village of Alloway is famous as the birthplace of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. Burns Cottage (NTS) lies in the heart of the village. The late mediæval bridge, Brig o' Doon, celebrated in the climax of Burns' Tam o' Shanter, crosses the Doon in the south of the village. The Burns monument is nearby.
The Brig o' Doon, Alloway
Inland is Cumnock, a former mining town with a strong socialist tradition. Keir Hardie's father lived here, and a statue of him sits outside the town hall.
The district of Carrick lies south of the River Doon. Maybole, its historic capital, has Middle Ages roots. For generations it remained under the suzerainty of the Kennedys, later the Marquesses of Ailsa, the most powerful family in Ayrshire. Culzean Castle (NTS), formerly the family seat, stands on the coast within a country park. It was constructed as an L-plan castle by order of the David Kennedy between 1777 to 1792. Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, near Maybole. Robert the Bruce spent his childhood at the castle and may have been born there.
Culzean Castle
Girvan, on the Carrick coast, originally a fishing port, is now also a seaside resort. The Galloway Hills intrude into Ayrshire, giving Carrick some wonderful rugged hill country. Out in the Firth, the conspicuous rock of Ailsa Craig provides a home for a huge numbers of gannets and other seabirds.