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Eglinton Country Park

Eglinton Country Park Ranger Service

Location and Access

Click to show a map Eglinton Country Park is situated just off the A78 Ayr to Greenock road, on the outskirts of the town of Irvine.

Eglinton Country Park is 1000 acres, created around the ruins and the estate of Eglinton Castle, it includes formal gardens, woodland, river, loch and Visitor Centre. A ranger service provides an interpretative service and guided walks, there are also self-guided trails and facilities for cycling, horse riding and angling.

Eglinton Loch and Castle. © Kevin Waite, 2003 The Visitor Centre includes a history exhibition and a gift shop, Tearoom, picnic areas and children's play area. Wheelchair access and facilities for disabled visitors. A Guided Walks and Events Programme is available from Easter. The mixture of river, loch, agricultural land and woodland attracts a variety of birds.

Notes on disabled access Disabled parking. Extensive network of metalled and un-metalled paths. Rough steep tracks through some woods.

On network of local cycle ways connecting with National Route 7. This forms part of the Irvine Circular Trail.

Birds

Resident breeding species include:
finches, tits, thrush, Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Tawny Owl, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Yellowhammer.
Resident (but non-breeding):
Buzzard.
Winter visitors:
Fieldfares, Redwings, occasional Waxwings and sightings of Hen Harrier and Kingfisher.
Wildfowl include:
Goldeneye, Wigeon, Tufted and Mallard ducks with Whooper Swans and geese on passage. Also Woodcock, Snipe, Curlew and Lapwing.
Summer migrants:
Swifts, Swallows and Martins; Willow, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

Usual sightings of various songbirds, water fowl and birds of prey, can be interspersed with the exotic (White Stork, Black Swan) and the unbelievable (a Flamingo!).

Additional Information

Further information may be had from:

The Ranger Service
The Visitor Centre
Eglinton Country Park
Irvine KA12 8TA
Phone:
01294 551776
Fax:
01294 556467
Email:
george@naceglintonpk.prestel.co.uk

Other Nearby Sites

Last updated: January 2003

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