Discover
The Shire.
One of five great
routes.

Explore the towns and villages of The Shire, situated in the south-west of Scotland. There is a clear legacy upon these lands of traditional industries such as fishing, mining, and farming, but perhaps unexpectedly The Shire also boasts an explosive, romantic and ancient cultural heritage.

From stately homes and ancestral castles to the untamed glory of its rolling hills, plunging glens, cascading waterfalls and formidable cliff-tops, the Shire has many geographical connections to William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, whose lives have been immortalised in folklore of the area. Visitors can also trace the steps of Scotland’s poet Robert Burns, much of whose poetry was inspired by the people and places of The Shire, with the Burns Birthplace Museum an unmissable stop for adventurers.

The Shire is globally renowned for its picturesque golf courses at Troon and Turnberry. Quirky independent boutiques and bars sit alongside larger leisure and retail attractions as visitors pass between the Shire’s smaller villages, and towns nearer commuter centres.

Whatever draws you to this part of Scotland, The Shire is an intriguing fusion of modern and historical, urban and rural, international and local which will enrich any visitor’s experience.