The best things to do around Ayrshire on Sunday 1 November, ranked by the forecast.
Looks dry all day.
Prestwick, South Ayrshire
Wide sandy beach with promenade. Great for an after-work walk; views across to Arran on a clear day.
Troon, South Ayrshire
Calm sheltered water at the south end of Troon. Best on a light wind day.
Dunure, South Ayrshire
Short steep hill above the coast with panoramic views of Arran, Ailsa Craig, and the Firth.
Colmonell, South Ayrshire
Distinctive cone-shaped hill in remote south Ayrshire. Steep pull, big rewards on a clear day.
Darvel, East Ayrshire
Volcanic plug famous as the site of Robert the Bruce's 1307 victory. Short sharp climb, sweeping views.
Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Wooded country park around a 14th-century castle. Easy paths, a cafe, and a small play park.
Darvel, East Ayrshire
Andesite crag with classic Scottish trad routes. South-facing, dries fast after rain.
Straiton, South Ayrshire
Waymarked forest trails on the northern edge of Galloway Forest Park.
Ayr to Prestwick, South Ayrshire
Flat traffic-free cycle along the Ayr and Prestwick promenades. Great for families and beginners.
Newmilns, East Ayrshire
One of the longest dry ski slopes in Scotland. Great for learning year-round.
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Public leisure centre on the Ayr seafront. Pool, gym, and fitness classes.
Ballantrae, South Ayrshire
Five-star castle hotel on a 110-acre private estate south of Ballantrae (KA26 0NZ) offering arranged outdoor experiences including falconry with eagles and Harris hawks, woodland archery instruction, country sports (shooting, deer stalking, salmon fishing on the River Stinchar) and Hebridean sea safaris. Experiences are arranged via enquiry with the hotel.
Dalmellington, East Ayrshire
Adventure activity operator (established 1999) running guided sessions from Craigengillan Estate near Dalmellington, about 12 miles from Ayr. Offers gorge scrambling (their most popular summer activity), climbing and abseiling, canoeing, kayaking and SUP, with canyoning and white-water rafting available on the River Nith for groups.
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Clay pigeon shooting ground at Blackstone Farm on the West Kilbride Road near Dalry (KA24 5HN), with 12 sporting stands, skeet ranges, DTL layouts and Scotland's first fully automatic covered Olympic Trap. Instructed beginner packages (25-50 clays, from about £46) run alongside competition disciplines, and the ground hosts national championships.
Fenwick, East Ayrshire
Treetop high-wire obstacle course in the woods of Craufurdland Castle estate near Kilmarnock (KA3 6BX), with a continuous belay system. Courses include The Explorer (age 5+, min height 110cm), The Pioneer (age 9+, 6m high, 1.5-1.75 hrs) and winter-only Tree Tops by Night (age 15+); the activity centre also runs archery, crate stacking, bushcraft and mud runs.
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Outdoor adventure activity provider run by the charity Adventure Centre for Education, based in Girvan and operating on the Carrick coast at Girvan, Lendalfoot and Maidens. Guided sessions include coasteering (age 8+, 3 hrs, £60pp), axe throwing, archery, open canoeing, kayaking, snorkelling and bushcraft.
Lamlash, North Ayrshire
Purpose-built residential outdoor education centre on the shore of Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, run and funded by North Ayrshire Council. Offers instructed activities including sea kayaking plus field studies and group activity trips, bookable by North Ayrshire schools and by external schools and organisations.
Lochranza, North Ayrshire
Community-interest outdoor education and activity centre at the north end of the Isle of Arran, running guided gorge walking on the River Sannox, a 25m sea-view cliff abseil, archery, canoeing, climbing, raft building and bushcraft. Sessions are open to individuals and families as well as school and residential groups.
Moscow, East Ayrshire
Country sports centre at Hemphill Road, Moscow, near Galston (KA4 8PP) set in woodland countryside. Instructed sessions in clay shooting, archery (taster £30, hour lesson £65), axe throwing, air rifle shooting and fly fishing/casting for all abilities.
Turnberry, South Ayrshire
Outdoor sporting activity centre on the 800-acre Trump Turnberry resort estate. Offers a clay pigeon shooting school with 12 sporting stands, a 6-lane archery facility, air rifle shooting, quad biking (adult and junior Polaris 150 for children), 4x4 off-road driving in INEOS Grenadiers and simulated game shooting.
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Ayr-based paddlesports club covering river paddling, sea trips and winter pool sessions, welcoming members from across Ayrshire including beginners. Runs learn-to-kayak-and-canoe weeks in summer.
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Community club rowing a community-built St Ayles skiff from Girvan Harbour, welcoming rowers of all abilities from teens to seniors.
Largs, North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire's longest-running sea kayaking club (40+ years), offering beginner coaching, coastal trips and club equipment. Summer water sessions run from Largs Sailing Club, winter pool sessions at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston.
Prestwick, South Ayrshire
RYA-accredited community watersports club on Prestwick Bay offering dinghy sailing and racing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and coastal rowing, with equipment and instruction provided. Also home to Prestwick Coastal Rowing Club and accredited for teaching visually and hearing impaired sailors.
Shiskine, North Ayrshire
Guided full-day and half-day sea kayak tours around the Isle of Arran coastline and neighbouring islands Holy Isle and Pladda, run by two local guides in small groups. No experience necessary; all equipment provided.
Troon, South Ayrshire
Community coastal rowing club rowing St Ayles skiffs from Troon Yacht Haven since 2012, with club sessions open to all abilities. A Scottish Coastal Rowing Association club and registered Scottish charity (SC053973).
Troon, South Ayrshire
Full-time kitesurfing school teaching beginner-to-advanced courses at Troon South Beach and Barassie (North) Beach, with 1-3 day courses, coaching and equipment sales.
Dunure, South Ayrshire
A roughly 9-mile stage of the 106-mile Ayrshire Coastal Path linking the castle ruins at Dunure and Greenan, with cliff-lined rocky beaches and high-level farmland paths. Four short tidal stretches can be impassable at high tide.
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Five council-maintained waymarked trails from the Shallochpark car park south of Girvan, ranging from the easy 3.5 km Dow Hill loop to the 17 km Pinmore route. The 6.5 km moderate Byne Hill circuit climbs to a summit with views over the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig.
Largs, North Ayrshire
Final northern stage of the Ayrshire Coastal Path from Largs to Skelmorlie, with a choice of an easier low road on minor roads or a more challenging high road over Knock Hill, the routes rejoining for the finish past Skelmorlie Castle.
Muirkirk, East Ayrshire
Scotland's first source-to-sea long-distance path, running 44 miles from Glenbuck Loch near Muirkirk along the River Ayr through Sorn, Catrine and Failford to the sea at Ayr. Developed through the Coalfield Access Project and used by over 140,000 people a year.
Straiton, South Ayrshire
A network of five waymarked walks (2–7 km) from Straiton village, including Lady Hunter Blair's Walk through the waterfall glen of Lambdoughty with woodland sculptures, and the steep Monument and Bennan circuit to the Craigengower obelisk. Developed, promoted and maintained by South Ayrshire Council.
Troon, South Ayrshire
An 8 km (5-mile) waymarked walk from Troon South Beach following the Wrack Road across Royal Troon Golf Course, past Crosbie Kirk and through Fullarton Woods to Loans, tracing an 18th-century smuggling route inland towards Dundonald Castle. Easy to moderate, about 2 hours, with some short steep sections.
Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
The northern section of National Cycle Route 73 connects Kilmarnock to the ferry terminal at Ardrossan via a mixture of traffic-free railway paths and quiet road sections, with the Kilmarnock-Irvine leg following a disused railway trackbed. Part of the National Cycle Network maintained with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans).
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Community-owned leisure centre at Girvan harbour run by the South Carrick Community Leisure charity, with a 25 m four-lane pool whose glass end looks out towards Girvan beach and Ailsa Craig, plus a gym and fitness studio. A Poolpod platform lift gives step-free pool access.
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Town-centre leisure hub on Irvine High Street operated by KA Leisure, with a six-lane 25 m pool, teaching pool, six-court sports hall, gym, class studios and cafe. Fully accessible throughout and home to North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club.
Largs, North Ayrshire
KA Leisure venue on Largs seafront combining a four-lane 25 m pool and teaching pool with a gym, cafe, the Barrfields Pavilion Theatre and the Viking Experience visitor attraction telling the story of the 1263 Battle of Largs era.
Stevenston, North Ayrshire
KA Leisure centre on Saltcoats Road in Stevenston with a 25 m main pool, teaching pool, gym and dance studio, plus North Ayrshire's only ice rink, used for recreational skating, curling and ice hockey.
Stevenston, North Ayrshire
Ayrshire's dedicated padel venue with three fully indoor padel courts in a converted industrial unit, plus changing rooms and a members' lounge. Offers both membership and pay-as-you-play, with all bookings handled through the CourtReserve platform.
Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Historic club (est. 1936) across two town-centre sites: four all-weather floodlit tennis courts at London Road and two more at Howard Park, where there is also an all-weather floodlit padel court and a pickleball court. Non-members are welcome to pay and play at Howard Park.
Prestwick, South Ayrshire
Ayrshire's main indoor tennis centre, with four indoor acrylic courts, eight outdoor courts (four floodlit artificial grass, four tarmac) and a Technogym fitness suite, plus six pay-and-play polymeric courts at its Ayr Fort satellite site. Covered floodlit padel courts are planned as South Ayrshire's first padel facility (planning permission granted, fundraising underway).
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Charity-run club with three all-weather artificial clay courts (two floodlit) at Southpark Road plus two resurfaced public courts at Arrol Drive (Seafield Courts), which anyone can book pay-and-play through ClubSpark. Clubhouse with changing rooms, ball machine and a full coaching programme.
Troon, South Ayrshire
Friendly volunteer-run club of around 250 members with six all-weather floodlit artificial grass courts at Victoria Drive. Full coaching programme for juniors and adults, with social play and competitive league tennis.
West Kilbride, North Ayrshire
Village club in Kirktonhall Glen with three floodlit artificial grass courts and access-controlled gates. Non-members can pay and play on Court 3 for GBP 8 per hour, and BL Tennis runs coaching for members and non-members.
Largs, North Ayrshire
Club based on four floodlit artificial grass courts at the sportscotland National Sports Training Centre Inverclyde on Burnside Road. Courts are bookable by both members and non-members through Inverclyde reception, with junior and adult beginner coaching available.
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Community club at Thornhouse Avenue with three courts resurfaced in astroturf in 2024, plus two smaller pickleball-sized courts that are free to play (GBP 1 for floodlights). Court booking is online via ClubSpark, with gate access codes supplied on booking.
Stewarton, East Ayrshire
Club of over 180 members with three all-weather floodlit courts at Corsehillbank, playable year-round. Coaching for all levels, with annual memberships from GBP 25 (juniors) to GBP 165 (adults).
Dreghorn, North Ayrshire
Ayrshire's only dedicated squash club - a volunteer-run, not-for-profit facility in Dreghorn founded in 1979, with over 80 active members, league teams and club nights. Memberships from GBP 5/month (juniors) include unlimited court time, with adult membership covering family members at the same address.
Brodick, North Ayrshire
Freshly refurbished public courts at Ormidale Park in Brodick, upgraded under the UK Park Tennis Project with new surface, fencing and access gates, and run by the newly formed Brodick Tennis Club with North Ayrshire Council. Book online via ClubSpark (GBP 10/hour pay-as-you-go) and receive a gate access code by email.
Lamlash, North Ayrshire
Community tennis courts at the Old Pavilion on Lamlash green, run by marine conservation charity COAST next to its Marine Discovery Centre. Genuinely accessible pay-as-you-play tennis - adults GBP 3.50/hour, juniors and seniors GBP 2/hour, racquet hire GBP 1 - with courts available 24/7 and an honesty box when the centre is closed.
Croy, South Ayrshire
Quiet beach break south of Ayr. Best on a moderate W swell with offshore E winds.
Maidens, South Ayrshire
Small picturesque harbour with sheltered swim spot at high tide. Just below Culzean Castle.
Dalmellington, East Ayrshire
Long freshwater loch on the edge of Galloway Forest. Calm water and a shoreline castle ruin.
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Long beach with parkland, beginner surf on small days, and family-friendly facilities.
Saltcoats, North Ayrshire
Reliable beach break on the Firth of Clyde. Works on most W swells with light E winds.
Barrhill, South Ayrshire
Guided open-water swimming with an STA Level 2 qualified coach across the lochs, rivers and sea of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, including sea swims at Girvan. Offers beginner 'Dip Your Toe In' sessions, 1:1 coaching and a monthly 'Dip & Chips' sea swim event.
New Cumnock, East Ayrshire
Scotland's only heated outdoor freshwater swimming pool, reopened in 2017 after refurbishment by The King's Foundation, offering lane swimming, public sessions, aquafit and lessons. Located in the centre of New Cumnock opposite the Town Hall.
Girvan, South Ayrshire
Long sandy beach facing Ailsa Craig. Good for paddling, walks, and calm-day swims.
Largs, North Ayrshire
Established sailing centre with dinghy hire, RYA courses, and easy access to the Clyde islands.
Largs, North Ayrshire
RYA-affiliated dinghy sailing club based at Largs Yacht Haven, running regular dinghy racing and cruising on the Firth of Clyde. RYA-accredited sail training is delivered by its sister organisation, the Largs Sail Training Association.
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Long expanse of sand running north from Ayr promenade. Good for swims, walks, and kitesurfing.
Barassie, South Ayrshire
Open beach favoured by Ayrshire kiters. Needs a steady cross-shore wind, ideally NW or SW.
Troon, South Ayrshire
Sheltered marina on the Firth of Clyde at Troon harbour with visitor berthing, a 50-tonne boatyard, on-water fuel dock and chandlery, accessible at all states of the tide. Departure point for cruising the Clyde coast and Arran.
Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Modern indoor centre with bouldering, roped climbing, and a dedicated kids' area.
A quick heads-up on what’s worth doing around Ayrshire this weekend. No spam.