Dunure Castle
Dunure Castle is located in South Ayrshire overlooking the small harbour of Dunure. Today the castle stands in ruins on a rocky promontory on the Carrick coast but at one time was a hive of activity. The name ‘Dunure’ is derived from Gaelic ‘fort of the yew tree’. The site dates from the late 13th century but the remains of the building are of 15th - and 16th - century origin. The castle is the point of origin of the Kennedys of Carrick, who once ruled over much of south western Scotland and were granted the lands in 1357. An important event in Scottish history took place in 1429 when James Campbell, representing King James I of Scotland and John Mor MacDonald, representing the Lord of the Isles met here. Violence broke out and MacDonald was killed. James I's efforts to contain the outrage of the Lords of the Isles by executing Campbell did not prevent a subsequent uprising by them.
Isle of Arran Hertage Museum
The Isle of Arran Heritage Museum explores the island’s diverse history through a variety of interesting displays. Originally the site of a small school, it is made up of several old buildings, including a croft, farmhouse, smiddy, cottage, bothy, milk house, laundry, stable and coach house. The stable and coach house contains old photographs highlighting village life and farming methods in bygone days. The isle’s long sea-faring traditions are remembered through steam powered puffers, paddle steamers and warships, to the latest car ferry. A model replica of a Viking ship, the kind assembled in Lamlash Bay in 1263 before the Battle of Largs, is a particular highlight of this exhibition.
Kilmarnock
The name Kilmarnock comes from the Gaelic cill (church), and the name of Saint Marnoch or Mernock a Scottish saint of very early times. The history or location of St Marnoch’s church cannot be traced, however, there is plenty to do in the town for the cultural tourist. The Dick Institue for example is a museum, art gallery and library and is one of the most important cultural venues in South West Scoland. It was also in Kilmarnock that the first collection of work by Rabbie Burns poems was published in 1786, on the current site of the Burn’s Mall – the perfect excuse to go shopping!
Auchinleck
Like many place-names in Ayrshire, Auchinleck is an Anglicisation of the original Gaelic name, ‘Achadh nan Leac’ which means the ‘field of the flagstones’. This village, two miles north-west of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, boasts a beautiful estate house which was the former seat of diarist James Boswell. Boswell is noted for his tour of the Western Highlands of Scotland in 1773 with Samuel Johnston which gave a fascinating insight into life in this Gaelic-speaking area following the last Jacobite uprising of 1745.It was a time when the Scottish Clan system was being dismantled and the wearing of tartan had been banned.
Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is an island of 219.69 acres located in the outer Firth of Clyde, 9 miles from mainland Scotland. Its name is an Anglicised version of the Gaelic ‘Creag Ealasaid’, which means Elizabeth’s rock. It is also known colloquially as ‘Paddy’s Milestone’ as it was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th Century. The island is now a bird sanctuary and trips can be organised from Girvan or Campbeltown. There are 36,000 gannets on the island as well puffins, black guillemots, razorbills, peregrines and many other birds.
Machrie Moor Standing Stone Circle
Machrie Moor Standing Stones is the collective name for six stone circles visible on Machrie Moor. Some circles are formed of granite boulders, while others are built of tall red sandstone pillars. The moor is covered with other prehistoric remains, including standing stones, burial cairns and cists. Several hut circles can also be seen as low rings of turf-covered stone.
