Bachelors' Club
Sandgate Street
Tarbolton KA5 5RB
In this 17th-century thatched house, Robert Burns and friends formed a debating club in 1780. Burns attended dancing lessons, and was initiated into Freemasonry here, in 1781.
Baird Institute
3 Lugar Street
Cumnock KA18 1AD
The Baird Institute Museum lies in the centre of the town of Cumnock, and was opened in 1891. The museum holds a collection of Mauchline ware of world importance, complimented by many items of Cumnock pottery, mining equipment, and photographs and artefacts of local and social history. Works of traditional and contemporary art and crafts are also displayed here.
Balmacara Estate
Lochalsh House, Balmacara
Kyle IV40 8DN
The Balmacara Estate is a diverse highland crofting estate of high nature conservation and cultural value. The land has been used for millennia, with the agricultural and woodland management of the last two centuries giving rise to a pleasing blend of built, crofted and natural environments in the landscape. Includes the historic village of Plockton and its open air church.
Brodick Castle
Brodick KA27 8HY
Brodick Castle and Country Park is unique in being the only island country park in Britain. The castle offers 600 years of history, a fabulous collection of valuable artefacts, and stunning views over Brodick Bay to the Ayrshire Coast.
Burns Cottage Museum
Burns Cottage
Alloway KA7 4PY
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland's favourite son. The museum comprises the famous Burns Cottage where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, the elegant monument and gardens created in his honour and a modern museum housing the world's most important collection of his life and works.
Culzean Castle & Country Park
Silver Ave
Maybole KA19 8LE
TWith its dramatic clifftop setting, Robert Adam architecture, fascinating history and beautiful surroundings, it's easy to see why Culzean Castle is one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions. Surrounded by Culzean Country Park, an extensive estate encompassing lush woodland, landscaped gardens and rugged coastline, this 18th-century Scottish castle couldn't be better placed for a family day out.
Dean Castle
Dean Road, Off Glasgow Road
Kilmarnock KA3 1XB
The country park boasts beautiful woodland walks, adventure playground, urban farm, visitor centre, tearoom, shop and a fantastic 14th century castle housing world class collections including historic weapons, armour and musical instruments.
Dumfries House
Dumfries House
Cumnock KA18 2NJ
Dumfries House is one of Britain's most beautiful stately homes. Set in 2,000 acres of land, this stunning estate and 18th-Century house with its unrivalled collection of original furniture has something for everyone.
Penkill Castle
Old Dailly
Girvan KA26 9TQ
A small village of South Ayrshire, Penkill lies a mile (2 km) south of Old Daily and 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Girvan. To the south of the village lies the Penkill Castle, an imposing 15th century castle with additions dating through to 19th century.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Murdoch's Lane, Alloway
Ayr KA7 4PQ
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers visitors a chance to experience the rich heritage of Burns within the environment that inspired his imagination. The late medieval Brig o' Doon, spanning the beautiful River Doon, was chosen by Burns for the climax of his tale in Tam o'shanter. Alloway Auld Kirk is the burial place for the poet's father. Burns Cottage, birthplace of Robert Burns, was built in 1757 by the poet's father, William Burness.
Rozelle House Galleries
Rozelle Park, Monument Road
Ayr KA7 4NQ
The Royal Burgh of Ayr held the Rozelle lands as part of the Barony lands of Alloway until an auction in 1754 to reduce the Burgh debt brought sale of the lands to Robert Hamilton for ??2,000. The Hamilton family made their fortune in the sugar and tobacco industries in the West Indies. Rozelle House is now a major display venue, currently showing the significant collection, Tam O' Shanter, a series of 54 paintings, by Alexander Goudie. Rozelle House is also home to the Ayrshire Yeomanry museum,
Scottish Maritime Museum
The Linthouse Building, Laird Forge, Gottries Road
Irvine KA12 8QE
Scotland's influence on the maritime history of the world from the 18th century to the modern day has been enormous and out of all proportion to the size of the country. The two sites operated by the Scottish Maritime Museum contain the exhibitions and collections that tell the story of that great maritime tradition.
Skelmorlie ROC Post
PA17 5AQ
Fifteen feet below the ground, a close-knit team of dedicated and highly trained volunteers waited for the message they hoped would never come. Throught the Cold War, the underground monitoring post of the Royal Observer Corps at Skelmorlie played an important role as part of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation. Collections: Includes many items of post equipment including air raid siren, ground zero indicator, bomb power indicator, burndept radio, teletalk and fixed survey meter. the post is also lucky to have the only known example of an experimental air filtration system in Scotland.
Souter Johnnie's Cottage
Kirkoswald KA19 8JH
See Scottish literature come to life in this 18th-century thatched cottage in the heart of Kirkoswald, Ayr. The former home of cobbler - or souter - John Davidson, the real-life Souter Johnnie immortalised in the Robert Burns poem Tam o' Shanter, it features a thatched tavern in the garden, complete with life-sized sandstone statues of the poem's main characters. The house also offers a taste of how the Davidson family would have lived and worked - inside the cottage there is a reconstructed shoemaking workshop crammed with Souter Johnnie's original tools, as well as living quarters with period furniture.