Finding a hotel in North Ayrshire

Unitary authority in western Scotland, created in 1996 from Cunninghame district in Strathclyde region. It has an area of 343 square miles (889 sq. km.) and a population of around 136,000. The administrative centre is Irvine. It borders onto the regions of Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire.

Geography

The area consists of a low-lying coastal plain on the mainland, rising inland to a plateau of over 1,000 feet and several islands off the Firth of Clyde which are Arran, Holy Isle, and the Cumbraes. The main rivers Irvine and Garnock reach the sea at Irvine. The highest point is Goat Fell (2,867 feet).

Industry

The major industries are chemicals, electronics, computer manufacturing, dairying, potatoes.

History

Battle of Largs (1263), when the Scots captured the Hebrides from the Norwegians.

Places of interest

Islands of the lower Firth of Clyde: Arran, Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae.