Home Report Hurlford

Hurlford in the council area of East Ayrshire, is a town of roughly 4,850 residents. It lies in the Irvine Valley approximately 1.5 miles to the southeast of Kilmarnock and about 3.5 miles to the west of Galston. Hurlford almost borders the eastern edges of Kilmarnock, separated only by the A71 and A77 roads.

Historically, Hurlford as a settlement rapidly took shape when coal was found in the nearby area. Iron and steel industries developed around the same time. While the heyday of these industries has long passed, there is a rather unique reminder of it in the form of a large ship’s propeller monument in the town. Today, the town is more of a commuter suburb for residents working in Kilmarnock and the surrounding Ayrshire area, though some commute to Glasgow. Commuting is straightforward by car and bus with the A71 delivering commuters into eastern Kilmarnock in just 5 minutes, or 15 minutes for the town centre. The town has no railway line of its own, but it doesn’t really need it given most residents of Hurlford can reach Kilmarnock railway station in about 10 – 15 minutes by car or bus.

In terms of local amenities, the town has the usual array of shops you would expect but Hurlford really comes under the catchment of Kilmarnock and its more significant array of shops and services. Being in the Irvine Valley offers residents fantastic opportunities to get out and explore the nearby countryside with some excellent walking paths and trails in woodland or along the River Irvine.

As for local education, Hurlford has just the one primary school: Hurlford and Primary School. Pupils of secondary school ages attend either Grange Academy or Kilmarnock Academy in Kilmarnock.