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Kilmarnock is the
largest town in
Ayrshire, situated
seven miles inland
from the coast with
good shopping,
restaurants, bar
diners, leisure
facilities and
historic
attractions.
The success of
Robert the Bruce and
his loyal supporters
at the Battle of
Bannockburn in 1314,
saw the lands of
Kilmarnock awarded to
his most faithful
clans.
The Boyd’s
built Dean Castle to
the north of
Kilmarnock,
Craufurd’s
built Craufurdland
Castle to the
northeast,
Cunningham’s
built castles to the
north at Kilmaurs and
south at Caprington,
and the Mure’s
built Rowallan Castle
to the north. Estates
formed or expanded at
that time, allowed
the town to grow
rapidly, as they
employed many workers
to cultivate the land
for growing crops,
vegetables, and
fruit.
Kilmarnock became
known for Scottish
bonnet making from
1647, and later for
carpet manufacturing,
some of which were
laid in the finest
homes throughout the
world. The town was
created a Royal Burgh
by Charles II in
1672.
One of the world's
most famous whiskey
producers was born in
Kilmarnock in 1805,
named John
Walker.
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Kilmarnock’s
main shopping area,
as seen in this
image, is King
Street in the town
centre. This
pedestrian only
street leads to
Kilmarnock
Cross.
Shops
Click On
Map
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The town centre quite
often has busker's and
market stalls.
Map . Large Image
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Kilmarnock
Cross, or Forgate
Square, with a
statue of Robert
Burns, is situated
at the centre of
Kilmarnock’s
shopping area. The
bus station and
London Road are to
the right in this
image, and the
train station
straight ahead.
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To the left of
the square is
Sandbed Street,
with the Laigh West
High Kirk being the
most prominent
building.
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You can find a life size
statue of Johnnie Walker at
this church. Johnnie Walker
built one of the top
Scottish whisky blending
warehouses at
Kilmarnock.
Johnnie Walker Statue
Large Image.
There are at least eight
churches around the centre
of Kilmarnock, varying in
age and architecture.
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The Johnnie
Walker Bond
building, in this
image, is situated
across the road
from the Laigh West
High Kirk, on
Strand Street.
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This was the old Johnnie
Walker whisky warehouse.
The first part of the
building was built in the
French Renaissance style in
1895, with later extensions
added in 1898 and 1907.
The building now holds
the local council's
Planning, Social Work, and
Roads Departments. The
windows have large images
of the warehouse when it
was in production, and
information on the
building. Large Image.
Walker built up an
Italian warehouse, grocery,
and wine and spirits shop
on the High Street in
Kilmarnock, where he sold
his own brand of whiskey,
named Walker's Kilmarnock
Whisky. His son, Alexander
Walker, was credited with
blending their Old Highland
Whisky in about 1867, that
was re-named Johnnie Walker
Black Label in 1909, one of
the most famous brands of
whisky around the world to
this day.
The Johnnie Walker
whiskey was made around
Scotland, at various
distilleries, then taken to
Kilmarnock to be
blended.
The last Johnnie Walker
plant in Kilmarnock closed
in 2012. Their whisky is
now blended in Levin, Fife,
and Glasgow.
For more information on
Johnnie Walker, and other
wealthy Kilmarnock
businessmen, and their
grand houses, you have to
visit the Dick Institute
Museum.
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Kilmarnock’s
Palace Theatre is
situated at the
corner of London
Road, and Sturrock
Street, a short
distance east of
Kilmarnock Cross.
The theatre was
completed in
1862.
Large Image .
Website
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Theatrical entertainment
at the theatre consists of
classics, children’s
shows, and contemporary and
classical music. Tel: 01563
554 900.
Events Website .
Map/Reviews
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The Dick
Institute, in this
image, is situated
on Elmbank Avenue,
just off London
Road, a short walk
from the town
centre, a few
hundred yards past
the Palace
Theatre.Website
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This museum and art
gallery, that opened in
April 1901, host’s
collections showing local
industrial, social, and
natural history.
Here you can find
information on Johnnie
Walker, and other wealthy
businessmen from the area,
and their grand houses. The
Institute is open Mon, Tue,
Thur, and Friday 09.00 -
20.00, Wed and Sat 09.00 -
17.00. Tel: 01563 554
300.
Map/Reviews .
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Kay Park is
situated a short
walk north of the
Dick Institute, up
Holehouse Road,
past Kilmarnock
College. The park
contains a large
pond with swans and
ducks, large
outdoor children's
play area, and vast
parkland.
Website .
Map/Reviews
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Kay Park also holds the
Burns Monument Centre, with
a large monument to the
poet Robert Burns.
The centre also contains
Family Research facilities,
and Archives for Family and
Local History. The centre
can be hired for weddings,
and is used for the
registration of births,
deaths, and marriages.
Robert Burns most famous
work (The Kilmarnock
Edition) was published in
Kilmarnock by printer John
Wilson in 1786. The Burns
Monument Centre houses a 3
dimensional digitised
representation of the
Kilmarnock Edition, also
with a selection of poems
sung and narrated. Tel:
01563 576 695.
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across Kay Park
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Dean Castle is
on the north side
of Kilmarnock off
Dean Road.
The earliest
parts of Dean
Castle, that can be
seen today, were
built in the 1750s
for the
Boyd’s (Earls
of Kilmarnock).
Website .
AS
Photo Page
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Howard de Walden, the
last owner, gifted Dean
Castle and estate to the
people of Kilmarnock in
1975.
The estate is now run as
a Country Park, free to
visit, with a visitor
centre with a cafe,
children's play area, many
walk/cycle routes, pony
trekking, tower museum, and
free tours of the castle.
Tel: 01563 554 734.
Large Image from a
woodland walk
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The Garage is on
Grange Street,
close to the town
centre. The Garage
hosts go carts, ten
pin bowling, soft
play area, Wimpy,
bar & function
suite, amusements,
kids parties suite,
and night club.
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The ten-pin bowling is
situated downstairs, just
inside the entrance.
The powerful go-karts
are upstairs, with a fair
sized winding circuit. For
enquires or bookings phone
01563 573 355.
Website .
Map/Reviews
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The Galleon
Centre is on
Titchfield Street,
a few hundred yards
south of King
Street (the town
centre).
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This centre contains a
swimming pool, ice rink,
bowling hall, 2 sports
halls, squash courts,
sauna/solarium suite,
fitness room, and two bars,
one of which overlooks the
ice rink. Tel: 01563 524
014.
Website for the Galleon,
giving a full list of fees
for each activity is
Website .
Map/Reviews
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The 6,000 yard
par 69 Annanhill
Golf Club is on the
west side of
Kilmarnock, off
Irvine Road. This
is a fine looking
course with many
fairways being
lined with trees.
Prices about
£20 per
round. Tel: 01563
521 512.
Website
. Map /
Reviews
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On the south side of
Kilmarnock is the
Gaprington Golf Course,
another fine tree-lined
course, also inexpensive
for visitors to play. Tel:
01563 521 915.
Website . Map / Reviews
On the north side of
Kilmarnock is the opened in
2010, championship standard
Rowallan Castle Golf Club.
Prices about £45 per
round. Tel: 01563 530
550.
Website . Map / Reviews
All Ayrshire
golf courses
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Just north of
Kilmarnock is the
Morris Equestrian
Centre with large
riding arenas that
host regular show
jumping events. The
centre also has a
Bar
&
Restaurant,
Shopping, and a
Games Arcade. Tel:
01560 600 769.
Website.
Map/Reviews
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Kilmarnock Football Club
plays in the Scottish
Premier League. Website
More information on the
history of Kilmarnock visit
the website kilmarnock.com
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