top 5 free things to do in north ayrshire

north ayrshire is on the west coast of scotland, with plenty of free activities to do. North Ayrshire has the first NHS/HSCP Dads Worker, our Ryan, who is supporting Dads and runs our weekly dads and baby group! check out dads rock’s recommended free things to do with your family and little ones in the area

1. Eglinton Country Park

The perfect place for a sunny day out! Eglinton Park is full of things to do, from gorgeous walk trails, historical buildings, STEM activities, playparks and more. There is plenty to do for the whole family, with various activities to peak different interests. We recommend their STEMosaurus trail, which takes you through a trail to discover the types of animals and insects that live in the park, as well as incredible animal sculptures, and even a woolly mammoth!

For more information on the park, click here

2. Irvine Beach

There is nothing more fun than a stroll along the sand and a play in the water on a summers day! We love Irvine Beach, and recently held a buggy walk along the golden sands. The beach also has a park nearby and boasts lovely views of Arran and Ailsa Craig. There is plenty of space for picnics and playing, as well as local amenities nearby.

3. Historic walks

North Ayrshire is full of history, so if your wee one is interested in castles or knights, it could be the place for you! We recommend Eglinton Castle ruins, Ardrossan Castle ruins, ‘The Pencil’ monument and Eglinton Estate. If you’re looking to tick off a bunch in one go and don’t mind a wee challenge, check out this fantastic North Ayrshire historical trail!

4. Visit your local library

There are lots of different libraries across North Ayrshire and they are the perfect place to snuggle up with a good book, learn something new or get involved in activities. Libraries often hold a variety of different groups, Book Bug sessions, arts and crafts and more - so this is the perfect place to get involved with your local community. You can find your local library here.

5. Come to a Dads Rock event!

Dads Rock host a variety of different events in North Ayrshire, with our NHS Dads Worker, Ryan. We are working with the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership with funding from the Scottish Government Whole Family Wellbeing Fund to provide much needed support to Dads in North Ayrshire. In a first of its kind partnership our Dads Rock worker is embedded in the Universal Early Years’ team helping Dads to be the best that they can be and support them to give their children the best possible start in life. This means working with Health Visiting, Midwifery and Social Work to provide bespoke 1-1 support for dads and their families at home and in the communities of the Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan.

We host a weekly Dads and Baby group every Wednesday from 6:30pm at Ardeer Neighbourhood Centre Creche, Stevenston. Here you can chill out with a cuppa, meet other Dads and their babies, and get some advice from our NHS Dads Worker. We sing songs and tell stories, and often have sensory sessions, making it the perfect place to connect with your little one.

We also have a North Ayrshire Dads Whatsapp group. Our WhatsApp groups provide space for you to ask each other questions and provide support and feedback to others who may be going through similar challenges. There’s some general chat too. To join the group, message 07807498709 or drop us an email and give us a note of your full name, phone number and location and we will add you in! Please note by asking to join our WhatsApp groups your name and number will be shared with the other group members.

For more information about our North Ayrshire work, click here.