Community action/South Ayrshire

The Ayrshire Coastal Path is a coastal long-distance hiking path in Ayrshire, Scotland. The route, which is 161 kilometres (100 mi) long, runs along the coast from Glenapp, Ballantrae to Skelmorlie. South of Glenapp, the route links with the Mull of Galloway Trail to Stranraer.

The path was developed by the Rotary Club of Ayr, and opened in June 2008. It is now designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot, and also forms part of the International Appalachian Trail.

The route is primarily designed for walkers, and as much of the middle and north sections are alongside beaches it is also suitable for horse riding. The northern section, between Ayr and Largs, is coincident with National Cycle Network routes 7 and 73 and is suitable for cyclists. About 3,000 people use the path every year.

The River Ayr Way is a long-distance path in Ayrshire, Scotland. The route, which is 66 km long, follows the course of the River Ayr from its source at Glenbuck Loch to the sea at Ayr, where the trail links with the Ayrshire Coastal Path. The path was developed as part of the Coalfield Access Project, a funding package of £2.5m that was used to improve public access to the countryside in the former mining districts of Ayrshire. The route was officially opened in 2006 by broadcaster Fred Macaulay, and is now designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot. As of 2018 about 137,000 people were using the path each year, of whom about 41,000 walked the entire route.

An ultramarathon is held annually along the entire length of the route, running "downhill" from source to sea. A relay race is also run, allowing teams of two or three persons split the route into three sections. The three sections are:

• Section 1: Glenbuck to Sorn, 27 kilometres (17 mi)
• Section 2: Sorn to Annbank, 23 kilometres (14 mi)
• Section 3: Annbank to Ayr, 14 kilometres (9 mi)

South Ayrshire (Scots: Sooth Ayrshire; Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Àir a Deas, pronounced [ˈʃirˠəxk aːɾʲ ə ˈtʲes̪]) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. South Ayrshire had an estimated population in 2021 of 112,450, making it the 19th–largest subdivision in Scotland by population. With an area of 472 sq mi, South Ayrshire ranks as the 15th largest subdivision in Scotland.

South Ayrshire's administrative centre is located in its largest town, Ayr. The headquarters for its associated political body, South Ayrshire Council, is housed at the town's County Buildings, located in Wellington Square. Ayr is the former county town of the historic Ayrshire county, with the political activity of the Ayrshire County Council being based at County Buildings. From 1975 to 1996 under the name Kyle and Carrick (Scottish Gaelic: A' Chùil agus a' Charraig) it was one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region.