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Irvine
is one of the
largest Towns
in Ayrshire
southwest
Scotland, 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 and
Diners.
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
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Map
44
Large Images
with
History
Whats
On
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Irvine
High
Street
view 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.
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This Church has
recently been
restored, now waiting
to be used as some
sort of business. The
area was re-developed
between 2012 and
2014, now with
Sculptures and a vast
Stairway leading up
to the Church.
Large
Image
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Rivergate
Shopping
Centre
view as it
crosses the
River Irvine,
leading
towards the
vast Car Park
at the west
side and
Train
Station.
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Rivergate
Shopping
Centre
from the vast
Car Park on
the west
side.
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There is a
Wetherspoon Bar Diner
here and a McDonalds,
KFC, Taco Bells, and
Tony Macaroni to the
right, also to the
right are large
stores such as Home
Bargains, Currys,
Carpetright, Tapi
Carpets, Sports
Direct, Dreams Beds
and Next.
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.
The Train Station
is just behind where
this image was taken,
about 30 minutes
travel north to
Glasgow Central, 20
minutes south to Ayr
stopping at Troon and
Prestwick.
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Scottish
Maritime
Museum
on Montgomery
Street, is a
short walk
west of the
Train Station
by the
Harbour.
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Tours start from
the main building and
take in Restored
Vessels moored along
the Harbour and
larger Vessels in
dock.
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.
Reviews/KA12
8BT . Website
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Irvine
Beach
Park
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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Irvine
Beach
is over 1
mile long,
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 Irvine
Train Station,
popular with day
tripers from Glasgow
as Trains run every
30 minutes, with
about a 30 minute
travel time to
Glasgow Central Train
Station.
Large
Image
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Eglinton
Country
Park
is 3 miles
northeast of
Irvine
centre, open
to the public
free of
charge all
year
round.
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There is a Visitor
Centre, Cafe,
Children's Play Areas
and many Scenic Walks
in the Park.
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.
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.
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This is the most
testing and
well-known of the 5
golf courses in
Irvine. A really
challenging Links
Course with all holes
right next to the
sea.
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 a Driving
Range, 9 hole course
and par 3 course for
learning, there is
the Gails
Lodge.
For all Irvine
Area Golf Courses
with large images and
price guides, visit:
Ayrshire
Golf
Ayrshire
Golf Tours
provide Golf
Packages.
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, with
History, visit:
Irvine
Photo Tour
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