Welcome to the Rankinston Community Website.

Rankinston village is situated on the B730, approximately 12 miles south east of the town of Ayr. Rankinston commands a panoramic view of over 20 miles north looking over the towns of Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, and much further on a clear day.

Rankinston village was built to allow the coal miners that worked in the local pits to have housing close to their work. At first these were miners' rows built by the pit owners, very basic dwellings comprising of one room and outside toilet, sometimes up to 11 members of the same family would live in this one room. During the 1920s the local council built housing of much higher standard. Check out our photo album for pictures of old Rankinston village, as well as views of the village now and surrounding scenery.

Over the years the village has gone from a farming hamlet in the 1600s to a bustling mining village with over 800 inhabitants in 1900 to a rural outpost of just 200 inhabitants to date. The recent decine in population was due to the closure of Littlemill pit in 1974.

Rankinston is unique in Ayrshire due to its altitude and easy access to diverse wildlife and fabulous walks through mature forestry.

The village has a Community Centre that is run by the local Council (East Ayrshire), but managed by the local members of the village. The village ia also one of the first in the UK to be a wireless hot spot, providing the service for free. The community centre has a busy calendar check it out by clicking on "calendar" on the menu. There is a doctors clinic which is run by the local health board, as well as a regular well used bus link to Ayr.

Our new community website lets friends old and new keep in touch and share news, photos and events. Anyone can post messages or photos and keep an eye out for upcoming events.

Enjoy, it is all for you!

Rankinston Community Association

Registered Scottish Charity SCO30301