What is North Ayrshire?
'''North Ayrshire''' ([[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]: ''Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Tuath'', {{pronounced|ʃir̴əxg̊ iɲiɾʲˈaːɾʲ ə t̪uə}}) is one of 32 [[Council areas of Scotland|council areas]] of [[Scotland]]. It borders onto the areas of [[Inverclyde]] to the north, [[Renfrewshire]] to the north east, and [[East Ayrshire]], and [[South Ayrshire]] to the East and South respectively. The area was created in 1996 as a successor to the district of [[Cunninghame]] which covered exactly the same boundaries. The mainland portion of the council area has historically been part of a greater [[County of Ayr]], however it also contains the islands of [[Isle of Arran|Arran]], [[Great Cumbrae]] and [[Little Cumbrae]] in the lower [[Firth of Clyde]]. All the islands were previously in the [[County of Bute]]. == Towns and villages == === Mainland === * [[Ardrossan]] * [[Barony and Castle of Giffen|Barrmill]] * [[Benslie]] * [[Bourtreehill]] * [[Beith]] * [[Chapeltoun]] * [[Cunninghamhead]] * [[Dalry, Ayrshire|Dalry]] * [[Dreghorn]] * [[Fairlie, North Ayrshire|Fairlie]] * [[Fergushill]] * [[Gateside, North Ayrshire]] * [[Girdle Toll]] * [[Hessilhead]] * [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]] * [[Kilbirnie]] * [[Kilwinning]] * [[Largs]] * [[Perceton]] * [[Portencross]] * [[Saltcoats]] * [[Seamill]] * [[Skelmorlie]] * [[Springside]] * [[Stevenston]] * [[West Kilbride]] === Arran === * [[Brodick]] * [[Blackwaterfoot]] * [[Lamlash]] * [[Lochranza]] === The Cumbraes === * [[Millport (Scotland)|Millport]] == Education == === Secondary Schools In North Ayrshire === * [[Ardrossan Academy|Ardrossan Academy, Ardrossan]] * [[St Andrew's Academy, Saltcoats]] (merged to form St Matthew's Academy) * [[Kilwinning Academy|Kilwinning Academy, Kilwinning]] * [[St Michael's Academy|St Michael's Academy, Kilwinning]] (merged to form St Matthew's Academy) * [[Greenwood Academy|Greenwood Academy, Irvine]] * [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine Royal Academy, Irvine]] * [[Auchenharvie Academy|Auchenharvie Academy, Stevenston]] * [[Largs Academy|Largs Academy, L