JD Vance lands in Scotland for next leg of UK holiday

US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Scotland during his visit to the UK.

Vance is on a private family holiday, and will stay in a plush country estate in the outskirts of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.

The vice-president arrived on Air Force Two at Prestwick Airport and was driven a short distance to Hulford in a motorcade.

His arrival comes just weeks after President Donald Trump was in Scotland, where he played golf on his courses at Turnberry and in Aberdeenshire.

Air Force Two touched down at Prestwick Airport on Wednesday evening

Vance will stay at Carnell Estates, a privately owned estate which has a 14th century tower and 10-bedroom mansion situated on over 2,000 acres of land.

The estate is about a 40-minute drive away from Trump's Turnberry golf club.

Police Scotland previously confirmed they had plans in place for "a significant policing operation."

Officers were seen at the estate ahead of Vance's arrival on Wednesday and some road closures were in place.

He was greeted at the resort by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters.

The demonstrators were kettled by police as they bashed pots and pans, waved Palestinian flags and shouted chants.

Police had initially told the protesters they would need to move and that officers would move them on if they refused to leave to a different space nearby.

Airspace restrictions are in place around the estate until Sunday.

Vance will reportedly spend five days in Scotland - the same amount of time his boss did during his trip to the country last month.

Protesters gathered near the Ayrshire estate where Vance will stay

On Tuesday, Vance met US troops stationed at the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, where he received a briefing on the base's capabilities.

While not on official White House business, he met David Lammy for talks about Gaza and other international affairs at the foreign secretary's official residence, Chevening House, in Kent on Friday.

Lammy has since referred himself to a watchdog after photos emerged of the pair fishing without the correct license.

Vance also met Conservative MPs Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Vance met US soldiers in RAF Fairford before travelling to Scotland

Earlier this year the vice-president criticised Scotland over buffer zones which prevent demonstrations or vigils taking place close to abortion clinics.

He used the new law as an example of Europe not protecting free speech enough and used a speech in Munich to claim "even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law".

Gillian Mackay, the MSP behind the legislation, said at the time the comments were inaccurate.

She said: "This is shocking and shameless misinformation from VP Vance, who is either very badly informed about what my Act has done or he is knowingly misrepresenting it."

However, Vance has also described himself as a "Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart" in the past, with his ancestors having moved to the Appalachian region in the US more than three centuries ago.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: "The Scottish government continues to work collaboratively with partners, including the UK government and Police Scotland, to manage the impact of a potential visit by the US Vice President to Scotland."