20 Attractions to Explore Near Associated British Ports Troon

Troon beach is a stunning stretch of sand carved into a bay on the west coast of Scotland. The beach is well-maintained and on a clear day, you can see to the Isle of Arran. The beach is easy to access and the lively esplanade offers several popular restaurants and cafes.

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.

Royal Troon Golf Club is a links golf course in Scotland, located in Troon, South Ayrshire, southwest of Glasgow. The club, which now has a total of 45 holes, was founded in 1878, initially with five holes. It lies adjacent to the Firth of Clyde. George Strath was appointed in 1881 as the club's first golf professional, and together with 1882 Open champion Willie Fernie, designed the original course, expanding it to 18 holes by 1888. The two were assisted by Charlie Hunter, greenskeeper of the n

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.

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.

Prestwick is a long, mostly sandy beach, with some pebbles, offering excellent views out over the Firth of Clyde across to the mountainous Isle of Arran. Behind the beach is the famous Prestwick Old Course venue of the first Open Championship.There are car parks at either end of the southern beach with toilets near the play area. The area is popular with golfers, and the northern end of the beach is backed by Prestwick Golf Club, whilst the Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club is at the southern end.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Loudoun Hall is one of the oldest houses in Ayr, it is in the boat vennel not far fromn the river Ayr. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in August 1563. It was one of Ayr’s finest and oldest public buildings, dating back to the 15th century. Its items included wall carvings of the motto of the 1st Earl of Loudoun, a ship’s rudder and a lead circle set into the paving stones , a tactile bronze model of the building, and a Scots pie cast in bronze.

St John’s Tower in Citadel Place is all that remains of Ayr’s medieval parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist. The church appears to have been founded in the late twelfth century, and it was enlarged during the following centuries. In 1315 King Robert the Bruce convened a parliament or assembly in the church to decide the succession to the Scottish throne.

A majestic municipal building in New Bridge Street, Ayr, Scotland. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Ayr Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building. Ayr Town Hall consists of the Town Hall, the Council Chamber and two Committee Rooms. The Town Hall can hold 641 people, the Chamber can hold 50 people and the Committee Rooms can hold 25 people.

Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened in 1907. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing. This Racecourse hosts numerous race meets throughout the year, but the two primary ones are over jumps in April and on the Flat in September. The Scottish National festival runs for two days every April and is a Grade 3 handicap National Hunt steeplechase race.

Craigie Castle, in the old Barony of Craigie, is a ruined fortification situated in the Civil Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It consists of the ruins of a 13th-century groin-vaulted hall house and later castle. The hall house was vaulted in the 15th century, and remodelled into a tower house with ranges of outbuildings. The castle had two courtyards, and was defended by ditches.

The Lang Scots Mile Walk was created in 2002 on the seafront of Ayr to commemorate the town's historical links with Burns as well as to encourage healthy exercise. It was estimated that a 10 stone man or woman walking Lang Scots Mile would burn off 115 calories and a 16 stone person, 184 calories.

The Alloway Auld Kirk, which dates back to the 16th Century, is a ruin in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland, celebrated as the scene of the witches' dance in the poem "Tam o' Shanter" by Robert Burns. William Burnes, father of the poet, is buried in the graveyard together with his wife Agnes and daughter Isabella as well as two of his nieces.