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Discover North Ayrshire

Home to 136,000 people, North Ayrshire covers an area of 340 square miles and includes the islands of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae.

Our dramatic coastal scenery, rolling hills and long sandy beaches make for a fantastic place for you and your family and friends to visit.

view across the water to the Isle of Arran

World class golf came to North Ayrshire in Summer 2017. The Men’s and Ladies Scottish Open, both sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, played over Dundonald Links in July.

If you love golf, we've got 21 golf courses in North Ayrshire.

The beautiful sailing waters of the Firth of Clyde, the most sheltered in the UK, offer something special and have been the major centre for water sports for well over a century. The maritime theme is prevalent across the region.

Busy yacht haven

Largs, home to the annual Viking Festival, serves up award winning ice-cream, while the town’s jaw dropping Marina can’t be missed. 

Saltcoats remains a hugely popular tourism destination thanks to its clean and welcoming beach. 

The Harbourside in Irvine offers stunning views and the town’s £20m new Leisure Centre, aptly named the Portal, has proved hugely popular since its recent opening.

Irvine Town House and Portal Leisure Centre

The award winning Scottish Maritime Museum is always a great day out for families.

The area is proud of its history. As well as the Maritime Museum, the Heritage Centre in Saltcoats hosts regular exhibitions. Kilwinning Abbey recently celebrated its 200th anniversary and fresh investment has made it even more striking while Kelburn Castle, near Fairlie, mixes history with recreation and fun for the little ones.

Eglinton Park, a hidden gem tucked between Irvine and Kilwinning, is rich in history and visitors can uncover the interesting past of the castle ruins.

The island of Cumbrae is a 15 minute ferry ride away and home to Scotland’s smallest cathedral - the Cathedral of the Isles. At roughly 4 miles long and 2 miles wide, people of all ages can easily explore the island by bike.

Perhaps the jewel in North Ayrshire’s crown is Arran. A 55 minute ferry ride from Ardrossan, the island – with its rolling and rugged hills, beautiful beaches and rich history – has won numerous tourism awards.

That’s only a snapshot of what North Ayrshire has to offer. Come visit and uncover the area’s delights. The only problem you will have is finding the time to fit it all in!

Take a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery of North Ayrshire, via our Love North Ayrshire Instagram page.

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