Kilmarnock Johnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Loudoun Theme Park

Kilmarnock Tourist Guide, Burns Monument & Kay Park

You might not immediately think of Kilmarnock and the surrounding area as a source of visitor attractions, but there's much on offer in both the town and the area, particularly in relation to Kilmarnock's rich industrial history and now to cutting edge contemporary art. 'Killie' to locals, the town is football crazy (see Kilmarnock FC weblink right for a history of the club), and it's the home of Johnie Walker Scotch Whisky. The largest Burns Monument in Scotland is here in the 30 acre Kay Park. The red sandstone Burns Monument and park date from 1879 - unfortunately the monument was damaged in a recent fire but will no doubt be restored by the time of your visit. Like Glasgow Green in Glasgow, Kay Park has a history as a site for protest gathering. In December 1816 around 6000 people gathered here to protest against the lack of Scottish representation in parliament.

Note the Corinthian Column memorial too in Kay Park, dedicated to the memory of Scottish pioneers of Parliamentary Reform. In Kilmarnock centre the art and culture centre - the Dick Institute is not to be missed for cutting edge contemporary art and some fine paintings by Glasgow Boy Edward Hornel.

In the Cumnock and Doon Valley area there's plenty of opportunity to dig deep into the industrial and social history of the aera both at the Doon Valley Museum and the Baird Institute in Cumnock.

For superb family fun days out head to Dean Castle & Country Park, Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre and one of Scotlands best family theme parks - Loudoun Castle Family Theme Park. The latter is just a 5 minute drive from Kilmarnock.

• Hotels in North Ayrshire
• Bed and Breakfast in North Ayrshire

The Dick Institute & Baird Institute, Kilmarnock Arts Centres

Contemporary art, social and industrial history exhibitions, regular events with drama and workshops and a Natural Science gallery are all on the menu here at Kilmarnock's Dick Institute. This superb and evolving cultural centre sits in the Dick Institute building dating from 1911. (it replaced a former building destroyed by fire - the new one you see today was financed by local industrialist James Dick).

There's some impressive artwork on display here at the Dick Institute including work by one of the key figures within the Glasgow Boys art movement, Edward Hornel. Other treasures include Alma Tadema Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

The main gallery on the ground floor has changing touring exhibitions, check the Dick Institute weblink and Visit East Ayrshire for details. Recent contemporary art exhibitions here have included the superb work of Mark Neville - specifically the Port Glasgow project.

The Dick Institute, Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock, KA1 3BU. Tel: 01563 554 343. (weblink right for details & location, open Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm).

• North Ayrshire B&Bs
• North Ayrshire Holiday Cottages

Kilmarnock Scottish Castles - Dean Castle & Dundonal Castle

Two castles in the Kilmarnock area well worth a visit are Dean Castle & Country Park and Dundonald Castle. Dean Castle particularly guarantees a fun family day out, with not just the historic castle with an impressive Keep, parts of which date back to around 1360, but also 200 acres of attractive woodland, a visitor centre and tearoom, a children's corner and adventure playground and a selection of woodland trails. Inside the Keep at Dean Castle there's arms, armout, musical instruments and medieval tapestries on display.

Local Lord Boyd added private apartments and the Place or Palace to Dean Castle in the 1460s and this is also open to the public. Dean Castle was actually first called Kilmarnock Castle, and the Boyds were given the lands on which the castle is built by Robert the Bruce. The Earl of Glencairn who owned the Castle during Robert Burns' time encouraged Burns to publish his poetry.

Dean Castle & Country Park, Dean Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1XB. Tel: 01563 554 708. (website linked right for more details).

Dundonald Castle, on the B730 just off the A759 - follow the signs, was built for the accession of Robert II in 1371. Essentially a fortified tower house, the early Stewart kings lived here. Earlier archeologica evidence has recently emerged indicating the presence of Stone Age settlement on the site. Not surprising as the location serves as a strategic hill fort. For a full history of Dundonald Castle checkout the website right. A visitor centre, exhibition and museum are also on-site, as well as a play area and skateboard park, woodland walks and a host of special events are held throughout the year, including the Dundonald Games on the first Saturday of every August. Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre, Winehouse Yett, Dundonald, Ayrshire, KA2 9HD. Tel. 01563 850971.

• Holiday Apartments in North Ayrshire
• North Ayrshire Accommodation

Keir Hardie, The Lochnorris Collection at The Baird Institute, Cumnock & Doon Valley

Formally the Cathcartston Visitor Centre, The Doon Valley Museum is the place to head to find out more on Kilmarnock and East Ayrshire's industrial and social history. Mining and quarrying are a focus in exhibitions, which explore the struggles of local people to survive, particularly after the decline of both these industries. Miners' banners and mining memorabilia and artefacts are on display, with regularly changing exhbitions.

East of Ayr and South of Kilmarnock, Cumnock has a rich industrial history with notable labour movement names associated with it such as Keir Hardie who lived and worked in the town in the 1880s. The Cumnock area was a hub for Ironworks, coal and mining during the 1800s. For an excellent portrait of Keir Hardie head to the Baird Institute Museum in Cumnock (open Thursdays to Saturdays 11am to 5pm). Relating to Keir Hardie is the important Lochnorris Collection consisting of 1200 items connected to Hardie's public and private life. The Hardie family continued to own the Lochnorris house in Cumnock for a number of years, and Hardie visited Cumnock throughout his life. One complete room within the Baird Institude displays some of the archive. For those with an interest in labour history and radical struggle, The Baid Institute is a must visit.

Having agitated in the Lanarkshire mines, no Lanarkshire mine owner would employ Hardie. The neighbouring Ayrshire Miners' Union however offered him the role of secretary. By 1882 however they were struggling to pay his salary, and he began working in a temporary post as a reporter for the Cumnock News. Hardie cut his writing teeth on this newspaper serving a small mining community here. He went on to launch the monthly journel 'The Miner'. Read more on Keir Hardie and his time in Cumnock via the Cumnock Living Memory Groups weblink right. The Hardie family lived in Lochnorris on the Auchinleck Road leading out of Cumnock towards Kilmarnock. In later life Hardie said that much of his socialism had been influenced by the simple democratic humanity and human comradeship in the poety of Robert Burns. The Keir Hardie Memorial in Cumnock sits just outside the Cumnock Town Hall. It's a bronze bust of Hardie, accepted by Nan Hardie Hughes (Hardie's daughter) in 1939.

Doon Valley Museum, Cathcartson Street, Dalmellington, KA6 7QY. Tel: 01292 550633. (weblink right for details & directions, open Thursday to Saturday 10am to 4pm). Visit also The Baird Institute Museum & Art Gallery, 3 Lugar Street, Cumnock, East Ayrshire, KA18 1AD. Tel. 01290 427084. (as well as the Keir Hardie archive, the Baird also has an extensive collection of Mauchline boxware, Cumnock pottery and numerous photographs, books and archive material relating to the history of the Doon Valley and Cumnock.

• Holiday Parks in North Ayrshire
• Holiday Accommodation in North Ayrshire

Loudoun Castle Theme Park, Ayrshire

Just 5 minutes outside of Kilmarnock off the A71 at Galston is one of Scotland's best family fun theme parks. (it's conveniently just 30 minutes from Glasgow and 1 hour from Edinburgh!). Set across 500 acres of pretty parkland, with historic Loudoun castle on-site, this adventure theme park has it all with rollercoasters, dogems, pirate swing boats, log flumes, live shows involving birds of prey, big top cirucs, woodland walks, kids playgrounds, gif shops, food outlets and the hair-raising 'Barnstormer' ride which launches you at a force of 4G up a tower, then down in freefall at 1G. 'Barnstomer's' catch phrase is, gulp, prepare for blast off!!

Daily theatre performances in the big top feture jugglers and acrobats. Take a Dougal McDougal Tractor Ride or a Pony Treck, ride in the Old Timers classic car, be scared out of your wits on the Twist and Shout rollercoaster or hop on the low key family ride - Drunken Barrels. A fun packed family day out is pretty much guaranteed here.

Loudoun Castle Theme Park, Galston, Ayrshire, KA4 8PE. Tel. 01563 822296. (See Loudoun Castle Theme Park's website right for more information).

• B&Bs in North Ayrshire
• North Ayshire Bed and Breakfasts