By Dominic Ryan
Here are 5 of the best Ayrshire and Arran attractions to visit, from country parks for the little ones to distilleries and whisky shops to keep Grandad happy.
Glen Scotia Distillery
12 High Street, Campbeltown PA28 6DS
Glen Scotia Distillery is one of the smallest Scotch whisky distilleries in Scotland. They are very proud of the fact that it still maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, the stillroom and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s. The distillery offers a wide range of tours to suite every taste. Visit website
Dean Castle Country Park
Dean Castle Country Park is an excellent free day out for kids and adults to enjoy with a 14th-century castle, beautiful woodland walks, adventure playground, Rural Life Centre, visitor centre, tea room, shop and events throughout the year. If you’re an Outlander fan, then the visit is a must as the castle and the surrounding area were used as a filming location for season two of the hit TV series. Visit website
A.D. Rattray’s Whisky Experience and Whisky Shop
32 Main Road, Kirkoswald, Maybole KA19 8HY
Explore Scotch whisky and its fascinating heritage at the A.D. Rattray’s Whisky Experience, located in the beautifully renovated old village hall. Relax and savour Scotland’s finest spirits in the excusing Tasting Room with friendly expert hosts taking you through the nosing and tasting. Finally step inside the atmospheric Cask Room where you can discover singe cask whiskies and witness your bottle being filled straight from the cask. Visit website
Dick Institute
Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock KA1 3BT
The Dick Institute is one of the most important cultural venues in the south west of Scotland, featuring the largest museum and galleries in Ayrshire with a range of arts and literary events throughout the year. It’s home to a programme of nationally important exhibitions, innovative works by leading and contemporary artists, filmmakers and young people as well as permanent displays of the museum’s diverse collections including natural sciences, archaeology and local and social history. Visit website
In Time Escape Rooms
Explore, collect clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the mysteries to escape at In Time Escape Rooms. Ran by escape room lovers, the games draw on local history as inspiration for the two games. In ‘The Smugglers of the Black Rose’ you and your fellow smugglers will find yourselves locked in the hold of an 18th-century ship about to dock in Ayr’s Port. There is also ‘The Abandoned Academy’ – a missing persons mystery in a 1940s classroom. Visit website
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