EAST AYRSHIRE

The gateway from central Scotland into Ayrshire is in fine health, powered largely by the constant rise of its largest conurbation

Once upon a time, travelling from Ayrshire to Glasgow or beyond was a fraught process. The A77 was a nightmare route, collapsing to a single lane as it entered East Renfrewshire, and anyone wanting to reach Lanarkshire or beyond had to choose between this or braving the Eaglesham Moor road, a bleak and unforgiving route notorious for being impassable in poor weather.

It comes as a surprise today to drive down the Eaglesham Moor road and find it a single-track country lane with cycle paths and passing places, but thatís because the new M77 and Glasgow Southern Orbital have opened Ayrshire (and specifically the eastern region) up to the world. Travelling out of Dunlop, Hurlford or Moscow is no longer an ordeal ñ not that itís always necessary to travel that far these days. In large part, this is thanks to Kilmarnock, which sits proudly in the centre of East Ayrshire and has seen some of the most spectacular property price growth anywhere in Scotland in the last five years.

Kilmarnockís appeal is down to a number of factors. Nestled between the A71 (arguably Scotlandís finest coast-to-coast road) and M77, its enviable position is augmented by a quirky town centre, desirable housing and plentiful amenities, which also serve the numerous satellite villages around it. East Ayrshire might be a small region, but itís perfectly formed.