Irvine Baptist Church

The plain stone exterior of Irvine Baptist Church doesn't prepare you for what's inside. Built in the 19th century, it's a working church that's remained largely unchanged - all dark wood pews, high ceilings and that particular smell of old hymn books and beeswax polish that takes you straight back to childhood services.

You'll want to time your visit around a service or ring ahead to arrange access, as it's not a walk-in attraction. Locals are genuinely welcoming though, and if you catch someone around, they're usually happy to show visitors the interior. The stained glass windows catch the light properly on a bright day, and there's something quite moving about the simplicity of it all - no frills, just a proper place of worship.

It's the sort of thing that works brilliantly if you've got elderly relatives in tow or you're interested in Scottish ecclesiastical architecture. Kids will likely get bored after ten minutes, though the old organ is impressive if someone's playing.

Irvine itself is a working coastal town with genuine character - nothing sanitised about it. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Sandylands Holiday Park just down the road, this makes for a quiet morning detour. Twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you chat with the church folks. Free entry, obviously. Worth popping into if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way specially.