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Canada may be the home of hockey but Prestwick is the home of the champion ice hockey team the Scottish Eagles. In 1998 they became the first ever British Team to win four trophies in one season. The Centrum in Prestwick is the venue for many of the big national hockey events and teams from as far afield as Bracknell and Sheffield battle it out on the oval ice at Prestwick. If you fancy a go yourself check with the venue for details of family skating times. You can also sharpen up your ice skills at the Magnum in Irvine, whether its figure skating, curling on just plain falling over.

Even if you are not a 'twitcher' birdwatching is an essential part of any walk along the paths and trails of Ayrshire. Take your binoculars and a simple bird identification book to add a further interest to a family day out. Ayrshire has a diversity of bird life due to its combination of shore, estuary, river, forest, moorland and loch features. In addition to indigenous species there are many migrants who visit en-route. Visit the harbour at Irvine, the mouth of the River Boon and walk along the River Ayr at Auchincruive for just a sample of the 200 or more types of bird that can be seen in Ayrshire.

The history and architecture of Ayrshire dates back thousands of years. On some of the walks you will encounter evidence of iron age forts, 16th century farm buildings, castles, keeps and fine country houses. The history of the region tells the story of the Covenanters, the smugglers, the rich landowners and the peasant farmers, one of which who grew to become Scotland's own Bard, Rabbie Burns. If you get the opportunity to read a bit about the history of Ayrshire and its people, your walks through the county will be even more enriched.