Ayrshire and Arran is an area of striking contrasts. Its landscape ranges from dune-backed sands to rolling pastures to moors. The local architecture is similarly diverse, marrying natural beauty with industry and modernity. It is the county of Robert Burns, commemorated by an exuberant monument at his birthplace in Alloway. Other highlights include the monument at the Skelmorlie Aisle in Largs; the stones of Machrie Moor; medieval castles and planned towns; early churches and abbeys; and some of the best-known country houses, Culzean Castle and Dumfries House. From railway bridges to farmsteads, town halls to Edwardian villas, this new Pevsner guide presents a comprehensive look at life in the county through its buildings.