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Irvine is
one of the
largest towns
in Ayrshire,
situated 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
situated 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.
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The Magnum
Leisure
Centre at
Irvine Beach
Park’s was
closed in
late 2016.
This was a
huge facility
with an ice
rink,
swimming and
almost every
type of sport
available.
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The new leisure
centre named The
Portal is now in a
new purpose built
building in the town
centre, on the High
Street. The new state
of the art building
is a lot smaller. For
a full list of
facilities at the new
centre visit the
website www.kaleisure.com
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Left is a
view 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
situated by the
entrance to the
Magnum, popular for
drinks and meals.
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Right is
the long
sandy beach
at Irvine,
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.
Irvine Beach is
always in great
condition.
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The Irvine
Scottish
Maritime
Museum, on
Montgomery
Street, is
situated a
few hundred
yards upriver
from the
Magnum. 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. 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
£7.50 for adults
or £5.50
Concession. Tickets
for the museum also
allow concessions for
visiting the Denny
Ship Model Experiment
Tank at
Dumbarton.
Map/Reviews/KA12
8QE . Website
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West of
the train
station in
Irvine is the
Beach Park,
and to the
east, as seen
in the image
right, is the
Rivergate
shopping
complex and
Retail
Park.
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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
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This view
shows the
large
Rivergate
shopping
complex as it
crosses River
Irvine
leading
towards the
town
centre.
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After
crossing the
river, there
is an exit
onto a
pedestrian
only street
that leads
from the east
side of the
Rivergate
centre to
Irvine High
Street, named
Bridgegate.
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This area was
re-developed between
2012 and 2014. The
area now has
sculptures and a vast
stairway leading up
to the church.
The Trinity Church
Irvine underwent
restoration work at
the same time, it is
unclear what the
church will be used
as. Large
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Left is a
view of
Irvine High
Street
looking east
towards
Kilmarnock.
West leads to
Kilwinning
Road,
Eglinton
Country Park,
Kilwinning,
Ardrossan and
Largs.
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There are a few
bar diners along the
High Street popular
for a drink and
inexpensive meals.
The tall building is
the Town Hall, with
the new Portal
Leisure Centre next
to the Town Hall.
A cobbled Street
about 100 yards past
the Town Hall, 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.
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Eglinton
Country Park
is situated
about one
mile
northeast of
Irvine
centre. It is
open to the
public free
of charge all
year round.
There is a
visitor
centre, tea
house,
children's
play areas
and many
scenic walks
in the park.
Tel: 01294
551 776.
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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 and is 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 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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