famous road
Electric Brae
Famous optical-illusion stretch of the A719 on the Ayrshire coast where cars appear to roll uphill. Drivers have pulled over to test the gravity-defying slope since the 1930s.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Photo by Joseph Mama on Unsplash
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Irvine
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Irvine
Irvine is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Springside, 27km from Electric Brae.
Irvine is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 34,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Springside, about 4 km away.
Irvine ( UR-vin; Scots: Irvin [ˈɪrvɪn]; Scottish Gaelic: Irbhinn [ˈiɾʲivɪɲ]) is a town and former royal burgh on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. In 2022, The town had a population of 33,998 inhabitants, making it the largest settlement in North Ayrshire, and 22nd largest settlement inRead more
Scotland.
Irvine was designated as the fifth and final Scottish new town in November 1966. Irvine is the administrative centre and the seat of the North Ayrshire Council administration which has its headquarters based at Cunninghame House. Irvine was the site of Scotland's 12th century military capital and former headquarters of the Lord High Constable of Scotland, Hugh de Morville. It also served as the capital of Cunninghame and was, at the time of David I, Robert II and Robert III, one of the earliest capitals of Scotland.
Despite being classed as a new town, Irvine has had a long history stretching back many centuries and was classed as a royal burgh. There are also conflicting rumours that Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed briefly at Seagate Castle. There is still a yearly festival, called Marymass, held in the town. Marymass refers to Mary Queen of Scots and is celebrated for around a week starting from the 15th of August, and was therefore Mary's Mass hence, Marymass. The town became a haunt of Robert Burns, after he briefly worked a flax-dresser in a heckling shop near the Glasgow Vennel. Two streets in the town are named after him: Burns Street and Burns Crescent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Irvine?
Within an hour or so of Irvine: Electric Brae (27 km), Brodick Castle (31 km), Goatfell (34 km), Riverside Museum (35 km).
Are there any good drives near Irvine?
The nearest famous roads are Electric Brae, Arran Coast Road (A841) and Rest and Be Thankful (A83).
Where is Irvine?
Irvine is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Springside.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 34,130
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.6194, -4.6551
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Irvine
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Brodick Castle
A red sandstone castle and country park above Brodick Bay on Arran, with woodland gardens and a rhododendron collection.
31 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Goatfell
Arran's highest peak at 874m, climbed from Brodick, with views over the Firth of Clyde and to Ireland on clear days.
34 km · about 40 min drive
museum
Riverside Museum
Glasgow's Zaha Hadid-designed transport museum on the Clyde, packed with classic cars, a recreated cobbled street of vintage vehicles, and the tall ship Glenlee moored outside.
35 km · about 40 min drive
coastal drive
Arran Coast Road (A841)
The 90km loop around Arran, taking in the Boguillie and the Ross road climbs — a classic day's drive or ride from the Brodick ferry.
38 km · about 45 min drive
ancient ruins
Machrie Moor Stone Circles
Six Bronze Age stone circles on open moor on Arran's west coast, including tall red sandstone pillars; a 30-minute walk from the A841.
44 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Loch Lomond
Britain's largest freshwater lake by surface area, where Highland mountains meet Lowland shores in a landscape immortalised in song.
52 km · about 60 min drive
cafe
The Oak Tree Inn
A popular stopping point on the A82 beside Loch Lomond, where road trippers heading to the Scottish Highlands pause to take in one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Irvine
- 27 kmElectric BraeFamous optical-illusion stretch of the A719 on the Ayrshire coast where cars appear to roll uphill. Drivers have pulled over to test the gravity-defying slope since the 1930s.
- 34 kmGoatfellArran's highest peak at 874m, climbed from Brodick, with views over the Firth of Clyde and to Ireland on clear days.
- 38 kmArran Coast Road (A841)The 90km loop around Arran, taking in the Boguillie and the Ross road climbs — a classic day's drive or ride from the Brodick ferry.
- 67 kmRest and Be Thankful (A83)The famous climb out of Glen Croe in Argyll with the old military road beside it; landslide-prone but a spectacular gateway to the west coast.
- 69 kmRest and Be ThankfulA famous viewpoint at the top of Glen Croe where 18th-century soldiers carved the name into a stone after completing the military road.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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