Countryside
Around Kilmarnock, you can enjoy some of the finest countryside in Southwest Scotland. There are plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling, and horseback riding, whether over wild moors or through secluded wooded gorges. There are also excellent visitor attractions such as Dean Castle & Country Park, which offers 200 acres of beautiful grounds, a visitor center, fascinating historic collections, a teashop, and the 14th-century castle itself.
Arts and culture
Kilmarnock and its surroundings are widely acknowledged for their exciting cultural events, destinations, and innovations. This is why Kilmarnock won the coveted Creative Scotland Creative Place Award in 2013. At the heart of the town's cultural personality, you will discover the Dick Institute. With its program of nationally important exhibitions, a superb permanent collection, and fascinating work by contemporary artists, this is a creative space with a fast-growing reputation.
For music and theater, there is the Grand Hall, which also incorporates the Palace Theatre. Together, they form a flexible series of spaces for all kinds of events, from epic concerts to small-scale dramas, conferences, and fairs.
Festivals
You'll find a real variety of festivals throughout the year, from the annual Kilmarnock Edition Festival, which hosts major music names, to the Imprint Book Festival, which takes place at both the Dick Institute and Burns Monument Centre. Kilmarnock hotels also provide a comfortable base to explore various open-air festivals that offer the chance to discover the area's stunning scenery, understand its diverse wildlife, and explore their precious habitats.
Restaurants and cafés
The range of dining places and charming cafés in Kilmarnock reflects its energetic, innovative flavor. At the award-winning Jefferson Restaurant, for example, you can savor stylishly prepared local and international dishes in smart surroundings. The stylish Café/Bar also serves afternoon tea and a range of cocktails. Meanwhile, at The Longhouse, you can indulge in prime Scottish steaks aged for 21 days while relaxing in welcoming and informal surroundings. At the Dragon Royale, you can enjoy a subtle fusion of fine oriental flavors balanced with European influences. When you're in the mood for a really good cup of coffee, why not stroll to The Coffee Press, where ethically grown coffee, locally sourced ingredients, and attention to detail are the highlights, not to mention delicious cakes.
