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Irvine is
one of the
largest Towns
in Ayrshire, on
the coast about
13 miles north
of Ayr, with a
long Sandy
Beach, Boat
Museum, Country
Park, and a
good selection
of Bar Diners
and
Restaurants.
Irvine
stretches from
the area of
Gailes in the
south, with
some top Links
Golf Courses,
to Eglinton
Country Park 4
miles
north.
The Main
Street in the
centre of Town,
and the large
Rivergate
Shopping Centre
next to the
Main Street,
are the busiest
parts of Town,
with a good
selection of
Shops.
The Train
Station is next
to the
Rivergate
Shopping
Centre, with
the Harbour and
Beach to the
west of the
Train Station.
The Beach is
long with Fine
Sand and the
Grassland
alongside is
miles long. The
beach area has
free parking
for hundreds of
cars. Irvine
Shops Click On
Map.
44
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This view
is of Irvine
High Street
looking
northwest,
the Town
Hall has
the Tower,
and the
modern
Portal
Leisure
Centre is to
the right,
opened in
2017, with
the Town Hall
now part of
the Leisure
Centre.
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The Town Hall was
built in 1862 to
replace a Tolbooth
from the 1300s.
There are a few
Bar Diners and
Restaurants along the
High Street, popular
for Drinks and
Meals.
A Cobbled Street
about 100 yards
behind where this
image was taken,
named Glasgow
Vennel, is where
the poet Robert Burns
stayed when he lived
in Irvine 1781 / 82.
The Cottage he lived
in has a Brass Plaque
with information
about his stay there.
There are a few Old
Narrow Streets and
Churches in this area
worth exploring.
The Robert
Burns Museum /
Burns Club and
Burns
Monument are at
the north end of the
High Street on
Eglinton Street,
about a half mile
walk to the Museum, 1
mile walk to the
Monument.
Seagate
Castle remains
are out that way as
well, Townhouse of
the Montgomery's of
the vast Eglinton
Castle and
Estate.
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Bridgegate
runs from the
High Street
to the
Rivergate
Shopping
Centre, as
seen in this
image, with
Trinity
Church on the
left built in
1863 with a
170ft spire.
This Church
has recently
been
restored, now
waiting to be
used as some
sort of
business.
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This area was
re-developed between
2012 and 2014, now
with Sculptures and a
vast Stairway leading
up to the Church.
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This view
shows the
large
Rivergate
shopping
complex as it
crosses the
River Irvine,
leading
towards the
vast Car Park
at the west
side and
Train
Station.
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This image
is from the
vast Car Park
looking
towards the
Rivergate
Shopping
Centre.
There is a
Wetherspoon
Bar Diner
here and a
McDonalds,
KFC, Taco
Bells, and
Tony Macaroni
to the
right.
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This is now the
busiest part of
Irvine as there is
free parking for
hundreds of cars, and
a variety of shops
that sell everything
from sweets to
furniture. rivergatecentre.com
The Train
Station opened in
1839 on the line
between Glasgow
Central and Ayr,
leading to the
Ayrshire Coast
becoming a top
Holiday Destination
for its Beaches and
Golf Courses.
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The Irvine
Scottish
Maritime
Museum, on
Montgomery
Street, is
short walk
west of the
Train Station
by the
Harbour.
Tours start
from the main
building and
take in
Restored
Vessels
moored along
the Harbour
and larger
Vessels in
dock.
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Inside the main
building of the
Museum is a
collection of Small
Vessels and different
types of Marine
Engines, you can see
the workings of Steam
Turbines. There are
three Restored
Vessels along the
Quay that you can
visit. These Vessels
however are sometimes
away on tours or in
dock being repaired.
Tel: 01294 278
283.
Prices for the
Museum are around
£8.50 for
Adults, £6.50
Concession, Children
Free. Tickets for the
museum also allow
concessions for
visiting the Denny
Ship Model Experiment
Tank at
Dumbarton.
Map/Reviews/KA12
8BT . Website
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The Magnum
Leisure
Centre at
Irvine Beach
Park’s was
closed in
late 2016.
Demolished in
2018. This
was a huge
facility with
an Ice Rink,
Swimming and
almost every
type of sport
available,
even held
Rock
Concerts.
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The Magnum was the
largest of its kind
in Europe when it
opened in 1977.
The new Leisure
Centre named Portal
is now in a new
purpose built
building in the Town
centre, on the High
Street, not as
large.
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This view
is of the
vast Beach
Park in
Irvine with a
Lake that is
ideal for
Remote
Control
Boats, and an
area for
Skateboarding.
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Cycle Lanes run
throughout the Park
that seem to run for
miles with parking
facilities for
hundreds of cars free
of charge.
The Ship Inn,
oldest Pub in Irvine,
is at the Harbour
next to the Park,
popular for Drinks
and Meals. This Inn
closed in 2020, but
should re-open soon,
hopefully. There are
other Eateries in the
area.
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The long
Sandy Beach
at Irvine is
next to the
Beach Park,
with great
views over
the Firth of
Clyde and
Island of
Arran.
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This view shows
the Beach with a
small Car Park that
sits out on the Pier,
with some Thrill
Seekers parking there
during Storms. Irvine
Beach is always in
great condition,
about a 1 mile walk
from the Train
Station.
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Eglinton
Country Park
is 3 miles
northeast of
Irvine
centre, open
to the public
free of
charge all
year round.
There is a
Visitor
Centre, Cafe,
Children's
Play Areas
and many
Scenic Walks
in the
Park.
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Eglinton Estate
was awarded to the
Montgomery’s in
the 1500s for their
support of Scottish
Kings. The
Montgomery’s
abandoned Eglinton
Castle and estate in
1929 after hitting
financial
difficulties. The
Castle fell into
disrepair, then said
to have been used as
Target Practice for
Tanks during World
War Two.
Eglinton Photo
Tour . Map /
Reviews
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Western
Gailes golf
course is a
challenging
6,639-yard
par 74 used
for The Open
qualifying.
This is the
most testing
and
well-known of
the 5 golf
courses in
Irvine. A
really
challenging
Links Course
with all
holes being
right next to
the sea.
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Further
information on this
Course can be found
at the website:
www.westerngailes.com
For inexpensive
Golf in Irvine there
is the Parks Course
on the north side of
Town named Ravenspark
For all Irvine
Area Golf Courses
with large images,
visit:
Ayrshire
Golf
For a Slide Show
of Irvine that is
like walking around
the Town, to view on
Phones, Tablets,
Computers or up to 60
inch TVs, visit:
Irvine
Photo Tour
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