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Gyms in North Ayrshire

An ice rink in Stevenston, a national sports centre in Largs and Goatfell across the water on Arran. Here's where to train in North Ayrshire and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
210

Showing 1–24 of 210 gyms

Towns in North Ayrshire

From Irvine and the Three Towns to Largs, the Garnock Valley, Arran and Cumbrae.

Training in North Ayrshire

A coast, two islands and a council leisure network people actually use.

North Ayrshire had 133,400 residents at Scotland's Census 2022, down from 138,146 in 2011, and it's older than Scotland as a whole: 23.7% of residents are 65 or over, against 20.1% nationally. People here make good use of their public facilities. In the 2022 Scottish Household Survey, 40% of adults had used the council's sport and leisure facilities in the past year, against 29% across Scotland.

Those facilities are run by KA Leisure. The Portal in Irvine has a six-lane pool, a gym and cycling studio, Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston has a 25 m pool and North Ayrshire's only ice rink, and Vikingar! in Largs has a 25 m pool and gym. School campuses and community sport hubs add gyms in Dreghorn, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, Largs and on Arran. sportscotland's National Centre Inverclyde is in Largs, and around it all are round-the-clock gyms in Irvine and Kilwinning, a CrossFit box in Dalry and jiu-jitsu in Irvine.

Whether you train on the mainland or catch the ferry to Arran or Cumbrae, it's easier with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in North Ayrshire

KA Leisure's centres first, then the national centre, the independent gyms and the fight clubs.

Find a training buddy in North Ayrshire

A skating partner at Auchenharvie, a lane partner at The Portal, someone to roll with at Baseline JJ in Irvine: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a North Ayrshire training group

A Saturday run round Eglinton Country Park, a ride round Cumbrae after the Largs ferry, a group for the Goatfell path: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in North Ayrshire.

  • Eglinton Country Parkabout 400 hectares in Kilwinning around the ruined Eglinton Castle, with a 6.5 ha loch and about 11 km of bridle paths.
  • Irvine New Town Traila 19 km (12 mile) ring of cycle path that passes through Eglinton Country Park.
  • Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park280 km² of hill and moor reaching down the coast to Largs, topped by Hill of Stake at 522 m.
  • Ayrshire Coastal Path100 miles from Glenapp, near Ballantrae, to Skelmorlie, one of Scotland's Great Trails.
  • Goatfell, Arranthe island's highest point at 875 m, reached by a 5 km constructed path from near Brodick Castle.
  • Great Cumbraean 11-mile (18 km) road round the island, a popular ride from the Largs ferry.

Getting around

Rail, ferry and bike routes to North Ayrshire's gyms.

Rail

  • the Ayrshire Coast Line from Glasgow Central: four trains an hour to Kilwinning on weekdays
  • from Kilwinning, two an hour continue to Irvine, Troon and Ayr, one to Ardrossan Harbour and one to Largs
  • Dalry and Glengarnock stations for the Garnock Valley

Ferry

  • Caledonian MacBrayne's car ferry from Largs to Great Cumbrae

Bus

  • free bus travel for everyone in Scotland aged 5 to 21 with a National Entitlement Card

Cycle

  • the Irvine New Town Trail, a 19 km ring of cycle path through Eglinton Country Park

Who trains here

What the census and the Scottish Household Survey say about the people you'll meet in the pool, at the rink and on the coast.

  • 23.7%Aged 65 or overAgainst 20.1% across Scotland. Plenty of people here have time to train in the daytime.Scotland's Census 2022
  • 40%Used council sport and leisure facilities in the past yearWell above the Scotland figure of 29%.Scottish Household Survey 2022, local authority tables
  • 13%Use a gym or lift weightsAgainst 16% across Scotland. Here it comes third, after walking (70%) and keep fit (14%).Scottish Household Survey 2022, local authority tables

North Ayrshire gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in North Ayrshire?

Gymist lists 210 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues across North Ayrshire, from KA Leisure's centres and the National Centre Inverclyde to round-the-clock gyms, CrossFit, martial arts clubs, golf courses and sports clubs on the mainland, Arran and Cumbrae.

Which leisure centres are in North Ayrshire, and who runs them?

KA Leisure runs them. The main centres are The Portal on Irvine High Street, Auchenharvie Leisure Centre on Saltcoats Road in Stevenston, Vikingar! on Greenock Road in Largs and Garnock Community Campus on Beith Road in Glengarnock. It also runs gyms at the community sport hubs and campuses at Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn, Kilwinning Academy, St Matthew's Academy in Saltcoats, Largs Community Campus and Arran High School in Lamlash.

Where can I swim in North Ayrshire?

The Portal in Irvine has a six-lane main pool and a teaching pool. Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston has a 25 m pool and a teaching pool, Vikingar! in Largs has a four-lane 25 m pool with a sauna, and Garnock Community Campus in Glengarnock has a main pool and a teaching pool.

Is there an ice rink in North Ayrshire?

Yes. Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston has the only ice rink in North Ayrshire, alongside its pool, air-conditioned gym and dance studio.

Where can I train outdoors for free in North Ayrshire?

Eglinton Country Park in Kilwinning covers about 400 hectares, with about 11 km of bridle paths and the 19 km Irvine New Town Trail passing through. Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park stretches down to Largs, the Ayrshire Coastal Path finishes at Skelmorlie, Goatfell on Arran rises to 875 m, and the road round Great Cumbrae is an 11-mile loop.

How do I get to gyms in North Ayrshire without a car?

The Ayrshire Coast Line runs four trains an hour on weekdays from Glasgow Central to Kilwinning, where it splits for Irvine and Ayr, Ardrossan Harbour, and Largs. Stations include Irvine, Kilwinning, Stevenston, Saltcoats, Ardrossan, West Kilbride, Largs, Dalry and Glengarnock. Caledonian MacBrayne runs the car ferry from Largs to Great Cumbrae.

How do I find a gym buddy in North Ayrshire?

Join Gymist free, add your gym and when you train, and browse members nearby. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, start one.

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