TROON has made the final shortlist of 10 in the search for Scotland’s Most Beautiful High Street.

Our sister paper, The Sunday Herald, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Keep Scotland Beautiful have teamed up to oversee the inaugural staging of the competition.

A judging panel from all three organisations have drawn up the list of finalists with the winner decided by a public online vote.

Also in contention are Alloa, Banff, Elgin, Falkirk, Forres, Fort William, Haddington, Lanark and Moffat.

Each town had to tell the panel what made their high street area the best in Scotland.

Among Troon’s strengths which impressed the judges are high shop occupancy, independent shops and cafes, cycle networks, great hotels and restaurants, low crime rates and stunning views of Arran.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership chief officer Phil Prentice said: “The story of Scotland and its proud heritage belongs to its towns. 

“This deep and rich tapestry of industry and invention is now woven into a network which forms the lifeblood of our cities and our country as a whole. 

“It is what we do with our towns moving forward that will ultimately determine our social and economic destiny.”

In concluding their pitch for the coveted title, Troon optimistically looks ahead to the future.

The judges are also told that Troon has  been ‘innovative and progressive during tough economic times’.

Visit www.scotlandstowns.org to cast your vote.
The winning entry will be announced at Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s annual conference in Paisley, on November 21.