East Ayrshire is strung with towns and villages containing fine historic buildings. The area was once a main textile centre of the British Empire and, while the industry is not what it was, there are still factory shops worth checking out. Castles, heritage centres, memorials and museums reflect other aspects of the East Ayrshire’s often dramatic history, and a visit to Mauchline, home of Robert Burns during the most creative period of his life, is unmissable. A network of cycle routes also makes the area perfect for exploring with pedal power.