Things to do & places to visit in Ayrshire, United Kingdom

Ayrshire #68 destination in United Kingdom 2023. The average rating score is 4.46 based on 12.2k traveler reviews, of 30 attractions. Timezone: Europe/London, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 5:39.

Ayrshire Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

55°F - 44°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Cold and breezy

Feels like

32%

Chance of rain

107.0 millimeters

Amount

16.6 mph

Wind speed

81%

Humidity

16.2

Daylight length

5:10 AM

Sunrise

9:20 PM

Sunset

41%

Cloud cover

Jacket

What to wear

Top things to do (27)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Blackstone Clydesdales & DIG-a-Day Experience (393 reviews)
- Great fun for big kids!!
Monday: Farms

Booking in advance is essential. FUN TIME, Ride our Clydesdale Horses or Jump on a BIG yellow Digger for some operating fun. There is always something to do on the farm enjoy interacting with our Clydesdale Horses, Heilan Coos, Alpacas and Mischievous Donkeys while meeting all the farm animals giving you an insight into their lives. Try riding or driving our Clydesdale Heavy Horses, or meet all the Clydesdales and farm animals on our walking Farm Tour. NO Riding or Driving experience require. Something Different - the 'BIG TOY' experience at DIG-a-day. Operate a mini to 14 Ton digger or big GreenTractor, putting your coordination skills to the test in challenges set. OR MIX IT UP - Combining DIG-a-Day and the Clydesdales in one experience. Great for all. Booking in advance is essential, unfortunately we do not offer any experiences on the day for walk-ins to the Farm. See more..
5.0 Dalgarven Mill (198 reviews)
- Surprising Find
Monday: Speciality Museums

No longer "Ayrshire's hidden gem" our four stars should tell you we are punching above our weight! Fabulous historic buildings, riverside walks, great freshly prepared food, antiques and an idyllic rural site, set us apart from the ordinary. See more..
5.0 Artastic (137 reviews)
- Fantastic Birthday Party
Art Galleries

An Arts and Craft Centre for Family Fun Days out! No studio fee! Suitable for children and adults alike We also specialise in Birthday Parties winning Netmums best party venue in Scotland 2013 See more..
5.0 Isle Of Cumbrae Distillers (84 reviews)
- Informative and fun
Monday: Spent < 1 hour Distilleries

Take a group of five women who met on a Scottish Island, a shared love of gin and a passion for the island they call home and what do you get? Isle of Cumbrae Distillers. Isle of Cumbrae Distillers is distinctively positioned as being one of the few all-female distilling teams in Scotland See more..
5.0 New Cumnock Community Open-Air Swimming Pool (62 reviews)
- Great way to spend an afternoon
Sports Complexes

N C Swimming pool is the heart of our community located on the main road in our village its safe for all bathers we have changing rooms and showers and our pool is always kept at a temperture of 30 degrees so its warm come rain or shine we also have a pool side cafe where you can get snacks and drinks great family day out and everyone is welcome help and advice is always on hand See more..
5.0 Blackstone Clydesdales & DIG-a-Day Experience (393 reviews)
- Great fun for big kids!!
Monday: Farms

Booking in advance is essential. FUN TIME, Ride our Clydesdale Horses or Jump on a BIG yellow Digger for some operating fun. There is always something to do on the farm enjoy interacting with our Clydesdale Horses, Heilan Coos, Alpacas and Mischievous Donkeys while meeting all the farm animals giving you an insight into their lives. Try riding or driving our Clydesdale Heavy Horses, or meet all the Clydesdales and farm animals on our walking Farm Tour. NO Riding or Driving experience require. Something Different - the 'BIG TOY' experience at DIG-a-day. Operate a mini to 14 Ton digger or big GreenTractor, putting your coordination skills to the test in challenges set. OR MIX IT UP - Combining DIG-a-Day and the Clydesdales in one experience. Great for all. Booking in advance is essential, unfortunately we do not offer any experiences on the day for walk-ins to the Farm. See more..
5.0 Dalgarven Mill (198 reviews)
- Surprising Find
Monday: Speciality Museums

No longer "Ayrshire's hidden gem" our four stars should tell you we are punching above our weight! Fabulous historic buildings, riverside walks, great freshly prepared food, antiques and an idyllic rural site, set us apart from the ordinary. See more..
4.5 Culzean Castle and Country Park (2.768 reviews)
- Great family day out
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Castles

This glorious 260ha estate was once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis – a man who was keen to impress with his wealth and status. Opulent to the extreme, the park is planted with conifers and beech, sculpted around miles of sandy coastline dotted with caves, and finished off with a Swan Pond, an ice house, flamboyant formal gardens and fruit-filled glasshouses. The castle itself is perched on the Ayrshire cliffs, incorporating everything the earl could wish for in his country home. It was designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here. See more..
4.5 Heads of Ayr Farm Park (1.311 reviews)
- Extra Costs
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Zoos • Game & Entertainment Centers

This is a great farm park with a massive soft play with different areas for children of all ages including toddlers. Outdoor play areas, sand pits, ride on toy tractors and trampolines and more. Maybe a few more animals wouldn’t go amiss. Negatives- Cafe in soft play takes ages to serve people queue barely moves. Waited 15 mins with only about 4 people in front and they were only ordering cakes and coffee’s just was so slow. Extra costs for bumper boats and £2 per person for the train is very expensive as compared to other farm parks include this in the price with some offering a longer ride as train ride is very short. See more..
4.5 Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (1.136 reviews)
- Very informative
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Birthplace of poet Robert Burns. See more..
4.5 Dumfries House (951 reviews)
- One of the best visits of this kind.....
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Architectural Buildings

Great house, fantastic grounds. First the advice - book a tour on line before you visit - the house tours last about an hour, are limited to c20 people and are very popular! The house is very well appointed, has an abundance of genuine Chippendale pieces of furniture and the guides are hugely knowledgable. Then to the grounds - free to stroll around, there's just an honesty box for the £3 entrance to the 5 acre walled garden. The grounds have something for everyone, big and small, with fascinating activity area for budding engineers, a massive tree house/slides/aerial walkways etc and plenty of other well tended walks. They also have training schools for apprentices and loads of other places to visit in the grounds, such as the huge walled garden. As well as being great restoration project, it has already created tens of permanent jobs. Well done! See more..
4.5 Dean Castle and Country Park (513 reviews)
- Wrong time at the Right place.
Monday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Castles • Parks

Dean Castle Country Park is an excellent free day out for all the family. The Country Park boasts a 14th century castle and beautiful woodland walks. The Country Park has completed a project to upgrade its Rural Life Centre, play park and Visitor Centre. The Castle is now closed for restoration and works will begin in June 2018. From June 2018, you will be able to see the museum collections normally on display in Castle at the Dick Institute, Elmbank St, Kilmarnock. Join us for different holiday activities with the Ranger Service over Easter and summer. See more..
4.5 Ayr Seafront Playpark (459 reviews)
- Love it
Parks • Playgrounds

Kids love it here. We travel about 80 mins to come here for the sea & the park. It seems well maintained & my 9yr & 7yr old love it & lots for my 1 yr old too. Best park around See more..
4.5 Burns Monument and Gardens (353 reviews)
- A Sylvan Tryst with Great Views and Plantings
Monuments & Statues • Gardens

The Burns Monument and the surrounding structures have been expertly restored in recent years. The gardens are beautifully planted and tended with great care and expertise. The trees add greatly to the site and paths wend their way throughout the area. It is possible now to climb up to the first level of the monument and enjoy views across to the Brig o'Doon and the river. See more..
4.5 Eglinton Country Park (339 reviews)
- Nice place even on a cold day
Parks

Nice place even on a cold day Was 4 degrees but still a fair few folk out, some with dogs and horses. It's a big park and great for walking. The cafe is open in winter to 3.30pm and does a good coffee ☕ Will be back See more..
4.5 Scottish Maritime Museum (255 reviews)
- Totally Shipshape !
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums

The Scottish Maritime Museum is based in the west of Scotland,with sites in Irvine and Dumbarton. At these two sites, the Museum holds an important nationally recognised collection, encompassing a variety of historic ships, artefacts, shipbuilding machinery, machine tools, and fascinating personal items.Many of these exhibits can be found inside the Linthouse Building in Irvine, a unique Grade A listed, 19th-century historic building known as the Linthouse Engine Shop 'Cathedral of Engineering and at the Denny Tank in Dumbarton, the world's first commercial ship model experiment tank. See more..
4.5 Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre (250 reviews)
- Beautiful hidden gem with a lovely café and pleasant staff! Highly recommend!
Monday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Visitor Centers • Historic Sites • Castles • History Museums

Built in 1371, Dundonald Castle is a splendid example of a medieval tower house, with a fine barrel-vaulted ceiling in the lower hall. Sitting on a prominent hilltop in Dundonald village, Dundonald Castle commands fine views over the Firth of Clyde. The castle was built on the site of earlier castles belonging to the High Stewards of Scotland and can be regarded as the cradle of the Stewart Dynasty. 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. The Castle Visitor Centre includes an exhibition illustrating the history of the site and a display of some of the artefacts found during archaeological excavations on the hill. There is also a souvenir shop and a small coffee shop which also sells cakes, soup and sandwiches. The Castle and Visitor Centre are open all year round. See more..
4.5 Caledonian MacBrayne - Day Trips to Arran & Argyll (219 reviews)
- Cant fault it
Monday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Ferries

Arran, Argyll and the surrounding islands will open your eyes and heart to the beauty of Scotland. Enjoy day trips to the blossoms of Achamore Gardens, Historic Brodick Castle, take a lunch cruise in Kintyre, take on the challenge of the Five Ferries and much more. See more..
4.5 Rozelle Park (212 reviews)
- Fantastic Day Out
Parks

Met up with family and had lunch in the tearoom. The food along with the service was first class. We then visited their fantastic art gallery before taking a walk around the park looking at the wildlife and the wooden carvings , we would highly recommend Rozelle Park to friends and family, but would insist that they take a large bag of peanuts and bird seed with them for the the squirrels and birds as they are so tame. Can't wait to go back. See more..
4.5 Portencross Castle (176 reviews)
- Photogenic and a good way to while away the time
Monday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Castles

What a great little castle. The volunteers were extremely welcoming and informative. Well maintained and lots to explore both in and around the castle to spend a few hours without the little ones getting bored. Worth mentioning that the entry fee was voluntary so would recommend contributing to keep places like this open to the public. See more..
4.5 Dunure Castle (163 reviews)
- Beautiful spot just abus ride from Ayr
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

Came here on a blustery cold January Sunday afternoon. Bus from Ayr stops in Dunure, give yourself an hour to look at the castle, harbour and labyrinth, there is, a cafe if you fancy warming up and spending more time. Interesting ruin, with great views even when cloudy. There is another castle ruin at Doonfoot further up the coast just outside Ayr, I will visit that one next time! See more..
4.5 Burns National Heritage Park (163 reviews)
- Lots to see and do - even if you aren't 'into' Burns!
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Museum dedicated to the life and work of Scotland's most famous poet, Robert Burns. Site includes the Museum, the cottage in which Burns was born and lived until the age of seven, the Brig'o'Doon, Alloway Old Kirk and the Poet's Path See more..
4.5 Largs Sea Front (150 reviews)
- Good family day put by the see
Piers & Boardwalks

Nice place for a day out with kids. Must do speed boat ride for £7 per head, which is set in front to car park. Car park is Chargeable but I am sure u can find plenty of space of side street. See more..
4.5 Lang Scots Mile (140 reviews)
- Lovely walk
Hiking Trails

Roughly one-mile scenic walking trail along the seacoast, suitable for wheelchairs. Start: Car park at Miller’s Folly on Cromwell’s Fort. End: Blackburn Car Park. See more..
4.5 Turnberry Light House (121 reviews)
- Lovely walk
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses

Well worth taking a lovely stroll to visit the famous lighthouse. Trump has completely regenerated the lighthouse and it looks stunning. It acts as a ‘halfway house’ for golfers playing the world class Ailsa Golf Course. So you can purchase some light food and drinks here. The prices are quite inflated eg £7 for a sausage roll, but it was expected due to being ran by the Turnberry estate. There is a nice terraced area you can sit and enjoy the views which I would recommend. See more..
4.5 Cathedral of the Isles (116 reviews)
- A lovely small cathedral
Churches & Cathedrals

The Cathedral is on the outskirts of the town and surrounded by trees. It is open every day from 10-5. It is a lovely C19th building designed by one of the leading Gothic revival architects of the day. If you are expecting a large building, you may be disappointed - this is the smallest Cathedral in Britain. The surrounding buildings are now used as a retreat and study centre. The easiest entrance is through the porch on the south side. The nave is very plain. There is a lovely open stone arch separating nave and chancel. The walls of the chancel are covered with brightly coloured tiles. The east window has the image of the crucified Christ with Mary and John on either side. Off the chancel is the Lady Chapel, again a very simple chapel. I was the only visitor and had the place to myself. It is a lovely spot and only a short walk from the sea front. See more..
4.5 Irvine Beach (107 reviews)
- Lovely beach
Spent 1-2 hours Beaches

The guys who were tidying up the beach yesterday ( Hogmanay) deserve a huge amount of credit, the beach is nice and clean, you can walk miles along the beach especially when the tide is out. Or you can nip through the dunes to the beach park. The bean has plenty of bins out for rubbish and is a great place for a walk. See more..
4.5 The Dick Institute (91 reviews)
- Grayson Perry exhibition, but so much more to see too
Monday: Speciality Museums • Libraries

Opened in 1901, the Dick Institute is an attraction, attracting over 120,000 visitors each year. It houses the largest museum and gallery spaces in Ayrshire and East Ayrshire’s central library. A recent refurbishment and the addition of a cafe has breathed new life into this stunning building ensuring it will continue to be enjoyed by a new generation of visitors. See more..
4.5 Culzean Castle and Country Park (2.768 reviews)
- Great family day out
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Castles

This glorious 260ha estate was once the playground of David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassillis – a man who was keen to impress with his wealth and status. Opulent to the extreme, the park is planted with conifers and beech, sculpted around miles of sandy coastline dotted with caves, and finished off with a Swan Pond, an ice house, flamboyant formal gardens and fruit-filled glasshouses. The castle itself is perched on the Ayrshire cliffs, incorporating everything the earl could wish for in his country home. It was designed by Robert Adam in the late 18th century and is filled to the turrets with treasures that tell the stories of the people who lived here. See more..
4.5 Heads of Ayr Farm Park (1.311 reviews)
- Extra Costs
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Zoos • Game & Entertainment Centers

This is a great farm park with a massive soft play with different areas for children of all ages including toddlers. Outdoor play areas, sand pits, ride on toy tractors and trampolines and more. Maybe a few more animals wouldn’t go amiss. Negatives- Cafe in soft play takes ages to serve people queue barely moves. Waited 15 mins with only about 4 people in front and they were only ordering cakes and coffee’s just was so slow. Extra costs for bumper boats and £2 per person for the train is very expensive as compared to other farm parks include this in the price with some offering a longer ride as train ride is very short. See more..