The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine has launched a travel subsidy of up to £300 to enable school pupils in Ayrshire to visit the award-winning venue.

Schoolchildren visiting the museum can enjoy a fun, educational and interactive session investigating Scotland’s maritime history through vessels, objects and stories.

Schoolchildren can explore the vast Linthouse, a Grade A listed 19th century shipyard building which is now home to the museum.

They can also tour the Shipyard Worker’s Tenement Flat where they can experience home life in the 1920s.

Schools can also pop into the museum’s Fitting Shed to learn about triple expansion engines and the Industrial Revolution.

For primary schools in the area which are unable to visit, the museum has launched a series of free ‘Ship to Shore Online Learning Workshops’.

The museum has also created a collection of ‘Learning Boxes’, with support from Museum Galleries Scotland.

The Learning Boxes, which are packed with artefacts, stories, STEM activities and resources, can be loaned for £30 per half term and are available around four key topics.

Interested schools can contact the learning team by email at   Education@scotmaritime.org.uk or by calling 01294 278283.