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Heads of Ayr is a Iron Age fort situated on the Ayrshire coast, approximately 1050 metres north-north-west of Genoch Farm. The monument occupies a defensible position built upon bedrock composed of Permian pyroclastic rock, an igneous intrusion that forms part of the area's distinctive geological character. This volcanic foundation would have provided a naturally durable base for the fort's construction and contributed to the challenging terrain that made the site strategically valuable.
The fort represents the settlement patterns and defensive strategies of Iron Age communities in south-western Scotland. Such fortified sites typically served as territorial markers, places of refuge and centres for local authority during this period. The coastal location near Heads of Ayr would have offered advantages for monitoring maritime routes and controlling access along the shoreline.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled ancient monument under reference SM5594, recognising its significance as a surviving example of Iron Age fortification on the Ayrshire peninsula. The site contributes to understanding the distribution and development of defended settlements across south-western Scotland during the pre-Roman and early Roman periods.
Heads of Ayr, fort 1050m NNW of Genoch Farm is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5594. View the official record →
Heads of Ayr is a Iron Age fort situated on the Ayrshire coast, approximately 1050 metres north-north-west of Genoch Farm. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5594.
Heads of Ayr, fort 1050m NNW of Genoch Farm dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort 1050m nnw of genoch farm. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Heads of Ayr, fort 1050m NNW of Genoch Farm is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM5594.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dunduff,fort 600 m NE of (2.8 km), Dunure Castle and dovecot (4.3 km), Craigmuir Mote,dun (5.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Heads of Ayr, fort 1050m NNW of Genoch Farm's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Heads of Ayr, fort 1050m NNW of Genoch Farm stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Carboniferous To Permian, bedrock that formed in the Permian. The rock here is pyroclastic-rock.