The broad valley of the River Garnock extends for 9 miles (15 km) south southwest from the border with Renfrewshire, across the Cunninghame district of North Ayrshire. The Garnock Valley includes the towns of Kilbirnie, Beith, Dalry and Kilwinning. Long associated with industry, cotton, linen and wool mills powered by the river gave way to the production of iron using locally sourced iron-stone and coal. By the middle of the 19th C., there were large iron-works at Glengarnock, Dalry (Blair Iron Works) and Kilwinning (Eglinton Iron Works), together with coal mines and clay pits, and associated tile works and engine works. Dalgarven Mill Museum occupies one of the former grain mills, lying on the left bank of the Garnock.
To the northwest of the Garnock Valley is Glen Garnock, which is of rather different character.
