Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock is the home of the largest Burns monument in Scotland.

Kilmarnock is twelve miles north of Ayr in east Ayrshire. The town's Burns monument, set in important local amenity Kay Park, was erected in 1879. This once impressive structure, the largest Burns monument in Scotland, was destroyed by fire in 2005. What is left of the monument is currently being renovated and made into a statue at the front of a new building; however this is still far from completion.

Kilmarnock's most impressive building is the Dick Institute, opened in 1901 and re-built in 1911 after a fire. It houses the local library and museum, and the exterior sports some excellent monkey puzzle trees. Dean Castle, dating back to 1360, has lovely wooded grounds.