If you have been to the wet and wild west coast of Scotland, then Irvine is the third place you will have stopped, after Ayr and, if the Viking festival is on, then Largs, too.
Irvine Harbour
Image: jennyt/Shutterstock.com
Irvine is pretty. It’s seaside pretty… yellow and red striped deck chairs and chips in the rain. It’s like Ayr but classy. It’s just about as ancient, as well. It sits on the south coast of the Firth of Clyde, and grew rapidly back in the industrial revolution when shipbuilding became a huge industry in the area. After the shipyards closed Irvine remained. Why? We don’t know.
Brief History.
People have lived in Dreghorn now a suburb of Irvine for hundreds of years and as time passed it grew to swallows up groups of cottages or villages so eventually becoming Royal Burgh and latterly a New Town. According to the 2011 census, it is now the largest settlement in North Ayrshire.
In the good old days, Irvine was an important military centre in the West. This may have had something to do with the pesky clans Donald and MacLean; who frequently raided along the coastline and stole away Irvine women… Don’t judge. That was just how you went about getting a wife back then. When Robert the Bruce rebelled against King John I, it was Irvine that he seized. As a seat of military power, the king’s lordship, and the seat of the Lord High Constable in Scotland; Irvine was an important place in historic Scotland. To this day the remains of Seagate Castle overlooks some of the oldest streets in Irvine.
The remains of Seagate Castle are still a feature in the town.
Image: James McDowall/Shutterstock.com
So if you were only in this historically marvellous town for a day or two, which sights should you see? Let’s get up close and personal with Irvine. It’s a classy place so we won’t catch anything.
Irvine At-a-Glance
So what’re the best things about Irvine? Obviously the people, but asides from them here are the top 5 sights to see in Irvine, North Ayrshire.
The Scottish Maritime Museum
This is a very cool place where budding boaters can head to earn how to build and repair their own vessel. Seriously. They run costumed tours, workshops, exhibits…. You name it. After the Highland Clearances when the farmland was cleared of cottagers to make way for sheep; many of them moved south and out to the coast. The clearances left a lot of people with no choice but to become fishermen. The museum at Irvine is a testament to that – but also focuses on Scotland’s long and proud history as the ship producers of the UK.
Dundonald Castle
The remains of Dundonald Castle
Image: Jazman/Shutterstock
Billed as one of Scotland’s ‘most unexplored castles’ (I mean seriously, who on Earth is writing for their marketing department? Send it to us!) This easy enough to reach the castle is just outside of Irvine but is a huge visitor centre. It was once home to Robert the Bruce himself and has been lovingly restored in part to represent how it would look back then. The castle was built in the 14h century…. Which was around about the time when he hundred years war started, to give you some perspective.
View of the inside.
Image Richard Semik/Shutterstock.com
Eglinton Country Park
Rated as the second-best thing to do in Irvine according to rip Advisor, Eglinton Country Park has everything you need for a fun day out with the kids in nature. Take a hike and choose any number of trails, help volunteer and learn about conservation, go fishing, hire an event space, or eat at their café. It’s like when you go on holiday to one of those all-inclusive places, except that you still have to pay for your drinks.
Irvine Beach
OK, so there’s not much to it. It’s a sandy stretch of coastline that has been cleaned up in recent years so that the locals can use it again. It’s a nice area; the rocks don’t really start until further south. There are toilets, games in summer; the town’s amenities are right across the road… in summer this is where everyone local flocks while the tourists flood Ayr to the south.
Even on a cloudy day the beach is worth a visit. Wrap up though as it can get windswept later in the year.
James McDowall/Shutterstock.com
Where to Eat, Drink and Party in Irvine?
If you are looking for family food then try the Porthead Tavern and Hamiltons Restaurant. If you want fine dining then Adesso or the Niche Restaurant are both solid choices. You will find the best pub in town at Harbour Lights. The best nightlife can be found by visiting Pitcher’s Bar and Nightclub.
Other Notable Irvine Attractions
That’s not all that Irvine has to offer. You will find all sorts of other attractions that we simply couldn’t fit on the page. Some of these (but not all) include:
- The Wellwood Burns Centre and Museum – not to be confused with the actual Burns centre in Ayr. They run regular book fares and keep the spirit of literature alive in Irvine, all year long.
- The Harbour Arts Centre – so Irvine might not have an art gallery as such, but it does have an Arts Centre. These are scattered throughout Scotland, are often charity/council run, and focus on bringing the job of the arts to children of the community. Good job those guys!
- The Rivergate Shopping Centre – so if you are in Irvine and you want to splash a little cash, this is where you come to buy new clothes BE prepared to fight your way through the groups of idling teenagers if you go after five.
- Shewalton Wood – once again, this little forest is just outside of town. It has a little pond though, which is lovely, and it is a regular haven to dog walkers. Best seen at twilight in winter when it has frozen solid.
Got Five More Minutes?
If you find yourself with another few minutes free and don’t know how to spend it; then head on over to our UK travel pages. We have destinations all around the world for you to peruse. Who knows? You may just find the trip of a lifetime in the next five minutes or so…
