THE QUEEN’S Baton will finally arrive in Irvine and Kilwinning next week, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The baton’s journey through North Ayrshire on Tuesday, July 15, will start in Skelmorlie after a handover at Wemyss Bay railway station, where it will be ceremoniously passed from one Provost to another.

From there, the first of North Ayrshire’s 126 batonbearers sets out on a route which takes in 10 locations – Skelmorlie, Largs, Millport, Kilbirnie, Dalry, Kilwinning, Irvine, Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan.

A team of 33 local heroes will escort the baton through Irvine and Kilwinning when it arrives.

It is expected to reach Kilwinning, arriving at Dalry Road, at 1.10pm, before travelling through the town centre, then heading towards Irvine.

Carrying it in Kilwinning will be Colin Kirkwood, who has raised thousands for charity in memory of his son Craig and Kilwinning Sports Club chiefs Colin Hunter and Jim McCubbin.

Joining them will be Ross Pilling, Nairn McDonald, Michaela Hoy, John Allison and Michelle Cooper.

If everything goes to plan, it should be on Manson Road, ready to be carried through Irvine town centre, at 2.20pm.

Amongst those carrying the baton in Irvine will be Thistle Help founder George Ruddick, Jim Heaney of Irvine Takeda Karate Club and Youth MSP Sian Hughes.

They’ll be joined by Caitlin Gibb, Caitlin McGarry, Eileen Morgan, Carly Wilson, Jean Scott Brennan, Andy Rennie, John McGarry, Leia Swan, David Weir, Martyn Clark, Danielle Torrance, Emma Stevely, Brogan Gibson, Ewan Alexander, Amanda Boucher, Georgia Henry, Lewis Henry, Ron Cheyne, Jackie Kerr, Ross Carswell, Christina Larsen and Ross Gibson.

The North Ayrshire leg of the Queen’s Baton Tour takes place eight days before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The baton has travelled 120,000 miles around 70 nations on its global tour and now in Scotland, 4,000 batonbearers are carrying it round 400 communities in all 32 local authority areas.

For more information about the Baton Relay visit glasgow2014.com IT WILL be a day of celebration across Irvine and Kilwinning as the baton makes its journey, with a host of community events.

From 11am to 4pm, the Woodwynd Community Festival will be held at McGavin Park in Kilwinning, with inflatables, assault courses, zumba sessions and lots more. Musical entertainment will be provided by Irvine Beat FM.

Irvine’s Vineburgh Community Centre will also be hosting their own family fun day from 11am for all ages to come and enjoy.

There will be a day-long street party in Fullarton, ready for the baton to make a special visit and people will have the chance meet the Marymass Queen and her Marys along with her stunning coach and horses.

Local sports clubs will be hives of activity, including Kilwinning Sports Club, which hosts a fun-filled afternoon of sports and activities from 12pm to 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, Irvine Sports Club are running an afternoon of 'come and try’ sports sessions and exhibitions to celebrate the baton’s visit between 1pm and 4.30pm.

Plus, everyone’s invited to gather at Bridgegate, by Trinity Church in Irvine, for an afternoon of musical entertainment for the family from 2pm. THE RED Hot Chilli Pipers will bring the Queen’s Baton Relay to a rousing climax at the end of its North Ayrshire tour on Tuesday.

The world’s most famous bagpipe band will have the tempo at fever pitch at a giant seafront party in Ardrossan on July 15.

South Beach will come alive around teatime to a stirring mix of rock anthem classics and lively Scottish jigs and reels.

An expected crowd of 5,000 will welcome the last of 126 batonbearers as the iconic symbol of international friendship reaches the end of its day-long journey through North Ayrshire.

The baton will be received by Provost Joan Sturgeon and Commonwealth Games board member Louise Martin after hordes of well-wishers will have greeted it at ten locations in the area.

Ardrossan’s grand finale celebration starts earlier in the day at 3pm while the baton is being escorted from town to town.

Live support bands will get the musical entertainment underway on a huge stage on the grassy seafront arena.

The skirl of the pipes will also be heard later in the proceedings when Arran Pipe Band leads a parade of 300 islanders along the prom from the ferry port.

A dozen community groups from Arran have taken up an invitation to join the fun and festivities on the mainland.

Overseas visitors will also bring their own national blend of music and dance to the event, furthering the spirit of the “support a second team” initiative which paired North Ayrshire with the Commonwealth territories of Nigeria and St Helena.

Also taking place at Ardrossan seashore will be a range of sports-based activities aimed at all the family.