20 Attractions to Explore Near Eglinton Country Park

Eglinton Castle is a very ruinous old mansion on the site of a castle, once the splendid seat of the Montgomery Earls of Eglinton. At its height it was second only to Culzean Castle in its grandeur and scale. Eglinton is best remembered for the lavish, if ill-fated Eglinton Tournament, a medieval-style tournament organised in 1839 by the 13th Earl. It was now one of the famous attraction in this area.

The Irvine Golf Club established 1887, is a fine example of links golf and is regularly used by the R&A as a Final Open Qualifying Course. Set in a seaside location, the neighbouring Gulf Stream ensures year round links golf, whilst the romantic peaks of Arran present a stunning backdrop to the landscape. It was over the links land of Scotland that the game of golf was born and still today the true links experience is unparalleled the world over.

Kilwinning Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded sometime around 1162. A rich, flourishing monastery for 400 years, it once covered several acres. As an incredibly wealthy establishment, the Abbey and its contents proved dangerously attractive to the aristocracy and it is recorded that the Earls of Glencairn and Angus joined forces as early as 1512, entered the abbey precincts, and tried to physically force Abbot William Bunche to resign in favour of the preceptor of Glasgow, John Forman.

A majestic museum which was home of the Irvine Burns Club. The museum offers a range of exhibits, artwork and information relating to the life and work of Scotland’s National Bard. Members of the club also volunteer their services to give visitors guided

Stanecastle was a medieval barony and estate in North Ayrshire, Scotland, first mentioned in 1363 and now part of the Irvine New Town project. Its nearest neighbours are Bourtreehill and Girdle Toll. In the middle-ages, Stanecastle gave way to the ever expanding Eglinton Empire and William Francis of Stane passed his estate on to the Earls of Eglinton in the 15th century. Campbell states that the present castle was built in 1520 by Montgomerie of Greenfield, a cadet branch.

Seagate Castle is a fortified mansion built by Hugh Montgomerie, the 3rd earl of Eglinton in 1565. It is the third castle on this site near the River Irvine and is the oldest structure in Irvine. The castle overlooks the oldest street in Irvine, which was once the main route between the town and the old harbour at Seagatefoot, which by 1606, was useless and abandoned due to silting. The remains of the castle are protected as a scheduled ancient monument.

The Scottish Maritime Museum is an industrial museum with a Collection Recognised as Nationally Significant to Scotland. The museum is an independent museum operated by a charitable trust: the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust. It became operational in 1983. It is located at two sites in the West of Scotland in Irvine and Dumbarton, with a focus on Scotland's shipbuilding heritage.

Irvine Beach Park is an expanse of greenspace to the south of the mouth of the River Irvine in North Ayrshire. Today there is a fine sandy beach, beach pavilion, a network of paths, large boating pond, picnic area, a maze and a crazy golf course. There are also two significant public art works; namely a stone dragon.

Dalgarven Mills are situated in a tranquil rural setting directly off the A737, halfway between Kilwinning and Dalry. The Museum is housed in the historic grain mill constructed in 1880. Beautifully restored buildings offer the visitor a chance to step into the past. Experience the sight and sound of one of Scotland’s last working water wheel, powered by the River Garnock.

Kerelaw Castle is an altered massive ruined 13th- or 14th-century tower and courtyard, which is much overgrown. It was situated on the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Stevenston. Kerelaw Castle is now a ruin, with three walls surviving in various states of decay. Gothic windows still adorn the southern wall, believed to have been inspired by those at Kilwinning Abbey

Cleeves Cove is a cave system on the Dusk Water close to Dalry near Cleeves Farm and Blair Mill on the Blair Estate.n It has around 500 feet of passages. The cave has three practical entrances facing onto the Dusk Water. Many of the stalactites and stalagmites have been damaged by visitors. The cave has three practical entrances facing onto the Dusk Water.

Stevenston is a sandy beach curving gently round a bay between Irvine and Saltcoats. The beach is backed by low, grassy dunes and lies in an area which has been designated as a Local Nature Reserve. The dunes here are a local Nature Reserve with an all abilities path and bridge. It is ranked as the fifth most important sand dune system in Ayrshire.

The Heritage Centre is housed in the former Ardrossan Parish Church which was built in 1773 on the site of an earlier church of 1744. North Ayrshire Museum was established in 1957 by Owen Kelly, a local businessman, to preserve items of local interest. It was run as a private concern until 1975 when Cunninghame District Council shouldered the responsibility of looking after the building and collection. In 2010 the Museum merged with Local and Family History Library to become the North Ayrshire H

A large impressive mansion and Category A listed, T-plan building of a late 16th-century date converted to the L-plan during the early-to-mid-17th century; its ruins stand about 1 km W of Dundonald, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Parish of Dundonald. It was held at various times by the Wallace, Cochrane and Montgomerie families.

Laigh Milton Viaduct, also known as Milton Bridge or Gatehead Viaduct, is believed to be the world’s earliest surviving viaduct on a public railway. It was built by William Jessop for the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway, Scotland's earliest line. The viaduct was in use until 1846. It later fell into disrepair but was restored in 1995-6 when a replica of the original track was reconstructed on it.

Dundonald Castle is a splendid example of a medieval tower house, with a fine barrel-vaulted ceiling in the lower hall. Explore the high-vaulted halls and gloomy dungeons of this splendid stronghold, perched on a hill above the village. The main tower was built in the 1370s by King Robert II to mark his succession to the throne. Its heritage is explored in the visitor centre.

Ardrossan Castle is situated on the west coast of Scotland in the town of Ardrossan, Ayrshire. The castle, defended by a moat, stands on a ridge above the town. There is a keep dating from the fifteenth century, and a vaulted range containing a kitchen and cellars. In a deep passageway there is a well. Part of the keep remains up to the corbels of the parapet, but it is in ruins. The original castle, owned by Clan Barclay, was partly destroyed during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Barassie Beach is situated just round the bend in the coast, from Troon Beach, meaning it does not get nearly as busy as Troon beach. It is a long, wide and mostly flat, sandy beach, although its expanse depends largely on the tide. At low tide there is a vast area for visitors explore, but when the tide comes in, water covers most of the beach.

This is a very majestic structure and was built upon volcanic rock that juts out near the bed of the river and may be considered one of the finest buildings in the district. here are square-headed drip moulds. Corner turrets are square; there is a porte-cochere; the building stands on a terrace, with round corner bastions. The internal hall and staircase have plaster ceilings and other Gothic decoration. The owners possess drawings of the castle prior to the modernisation.

The Port of Troon is a well-established and well-supported fishing port, but also has a crucial role in the UK's timber trade. It also has a purpose-built ferry terminal, servicing routes between Scotland and Ireland.