It was in Ayrshire, and more specifically, in the village of Alloway near Ayr, that national hero Robert Burns was born. The poet was born in the region in 1759 and went on to make a name for himself in Scotland, so much so that he is celebrated on January 25 each year.

It is also thought that other historical giants William Wallace and Robert the Bruce were born in Ayrshire, in Ellerslie and Turnberry Castle respectively. Meanwhile, other names to come out of this part of the country include Sir Alexander Fleming who played a lead role in the discovery of penicillin, former football manager Bill Shankly and Ryder Cup winning captain Sam Torrance.

The seventh largest region in the country, Ayrshire is made up of north, south and east sections as well as the sizeable Isle of Arran to the west and the smaller isles of Cumbrae to the north-west. There is something of a peaceful atmosphere throughout the region; there are no cities or particularly large towns. In fact, the largest towns are Kilmarnock, Irvine and country town Ayr.

Ayrshire is set in the south-west of Scotland and borders Dumfries and Galloway to the south and the Clyde Valley to the north. It is even home to the Glasgow Prestwick International Airport which, it has to be said, is some way outside the country’s largest city. There are 80 miles of beaches on the west coast which work their way along next to the Clyde, while inland there is an abundance of farm land and spaces for outdoor enthusiasts.

Golf is both popular and prestigious in this part of the world, no more so than in Ayrshire. It has three championship golf courses which make up part of the total of more than 40 courses in the region as a whole. The courses at Troon, Turnbury and Old Prestwick have hosted major events in years gone by such as the Open Championships. There are several top hotels in and around these courses in particular.

Ayrshire features a number of market towns, gardens, castles and natural scenery such as mountains, stone circles and rivers. There are castles around the region, for example those at Brodick on the Isle of Arran, and Culzean which is south along the coast from Ayr. There are also museums in the form of the Burns Museum and the Scottish Maritime Museum. Finally, there are some national trust properties in the town of Ayr – the Bachelor’s Club and the Souter Johnnie’s Cottage.