AyrshireTour Ayrshire, the inspiration for Robert Burns, British Open Golf and memorable sunsets across to the Isle of ArranAyrshire is the birthplace of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Poet, as well as the British Open Golf Championship which started its illustrious tradition in Prestwick in 1860. Besides the big attractions of Burns and Golf, Ayrshire has much to offer. No matter where you might be in Ayrshire you will not be far from magnificent seascapes across the Firth of Clyde, sparkling sea vistas of the islands of Arran and Ailsa Craig. Summer sunsets across the Firth of Clyde can be spectacular and, because of the latitude, can last for what seems to be forever - an inspiration for the photographer or artist in you. Castles and Country Houses of AyrshireAyrshire is where the visitor will find breathtaking Scottish castles and fine stately homes reflecting an illustrious heritage and interesting histories. Some of them have been transformed into luxury hotels where you can enjoy the benefits of extensive country estates with walking, fishing, nature or just indulge your whims with the advantages on offer from a sporting estate. Eating Out in AyrshireThe award winning restaurants in Ayrshire's countryside, villages and towns do wonders with the excellent produce from the region's natural larder. Ayrshire is now established as one of Scotland's most fertile regions, having come a long way since Robert Burns tried, unsuccessfully, to scrape a meagre existence from the soil. Fields not far from the sea produce Britain's finest early potatoes while clifftop pastures are home to the famous Ayrshire breed of dairy cattle, recognised for its quality beef and milk, the ingredient for those famous Ayrshire Cheeses. Indeed, the Ayrshire brand name is popular throughout the world promoting top quality dairy products. Lamb and pork products, fruit and vegetables are also locally sourced constituents of the region’s fine cuisine and can be found on the tables of the country's Michelin - starred restaurants. With fresh fish and shellfish caught on the doorstep you are in for delectable seafood treats. You might want to even try and catch your own meal with a wee bit of sea fishing or river fishing. Ayrshire Water SportsWith the sea stretching before you there are water sports galore along the coast with long flat beaches popular for water and wind sports. On beaches like Troon, Barassie, Ayr and Prestwick where the wind is frequently an "onshore wind" you will see windsurfing and kite surfing. The Firth of Clyde has a long tradition of yachting and sailing with marinas in Ardrossan, Largs and Troon, serviced with the appropriate facilities, offering respite from storm lashed seas. Some are excellently served by first class restaurants. You will find Yacht Charters in the Marinas either skippered or barefoot and some offer sailing lessons, an excellent way to spend a holiday. The yachting and sailing season on the Clyde is a long one; the enthusiasm for sail is abundantly clear when on a cold autumn day, you can spy the sails of a grand old lady of the sea ploughing through mist and spray on a day out. Ayrshire: Burns CountryRobert Burns was born, educated, and lived for much of his short life in Ayrshire. His life has become a celebration throughout the world but no more so than in Alloway where he was born and where you will find the world’s biggest and best collection of Burns memorabilia and artefacts at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, a new state of the art building serving as a focal point for the other places nearby touched by his poetry and life. No matter where you visit in Ayrshire, Scotland’s National Bard will almost surely have been there before you and, as was his nature, he would leave behind a good anecdote or poem just for posterity: Maybole was the home of his maternal ancestors; Irvine was where he learned the trade of flax dressing and finally Kilmarnock helped to make him famous, being where his poems were first published. All these places boast a memorial or museum to his memory. Kirkoswald was where he studied mathematics and where Douglas Graham and John Davidson lived, the two real life notorious revellers who inspired the characters in Tam O'Shanter. Davidson was depicted as Souter Johnnie in the poem and the cottage in which he lived and worked has been preserved. You can visit Souter Johnnie's Cottage to get a sense of Robert Burns life in the 18th century. Mauchline was where he spent some time with his wife, Jean Armour, during a four year period from 1784, considered to be one of his most creative while he was supposedly farming in nearby Mossgiel. Visit the Burns House Museum to get an insight into this period of Burns' life. Dalrymple is a quiet little village of weavers' cottages and it was here that the young Robert Burns received an education. It is said by some people that the village and its location was the inspiration for the musical Brigadoon, (not to be confused with the Brig o' Doon depicted above), about a mysterious Scottish village that appears every 100 years. Tarbolton is home to the Bachelor’s Club where Robert Burns exercised his passions for republican debates, drinking, dancing and pursuing pretty women, as well as being the place where he was initiated as a Freemason. To find out just how many places in Scotland have an association, a reference, a poem, a connection to Robert Burns type 'burns' into the search facility and see the results. Ayrshire's golf heritage and the birthplace of the British OpenAlong Ayrshire's coastal terrain there was poor soil mixed with sand dunes providing a turf exposed to wind and salty sea air - not at all good for agriculture. However, the land was also exposed to lots of wee rabbits so there was plenty of nibbling of grass and burrowing into the ground. The result was the turf became close cropped and the burrows developed into natural hollows into which a golf ball could easily roll, providing the perfect elements for the renowned Links Golf Course before the age of the lawn mower. The game has come a long way since Scots started hitting a wee ball with a stick into a hole. Prestwick Golf Club was written into the Golfing History Book with the first British Open being played in 1860 when eight professional players competed for the prize of a red Morocco leather belt with silver clasps and an ornamental silver buckle, total value £25. Being only a 12 hole course the competitors made three trips over the terrain in the one day to complete 36 holes and the tournament. Prestwick remained in the Open's rotation until 1925, hosting the championship 24 times in all, which is second only to the Old Course at St Andrews. Crowd control became a problem when too few marshals were employed to deal with an ever increasing number of spectators due to the popularity of the sport. They were unable to control the crowd from disrupting play with shots being deflected when hitting spectators and thus affecting the outcome of the championship. The course's cramped layout makes hosting events with large galleries extremely difficult, although the course's challenge still remains to test the talents of modern players. Prestwick was number one in Ayrshire until 1923 when Royal Troon was given the chance to host the British Open. Now there were two big Ayrshire names. Troon started life in 1878 in the best possible fashion, namely in a local pub where a few enthusiasts put their idea into practice. A humble five hole course was initially laid out and extended later. It was to be 1923 before it was able to move out of the shadow of its more famous neighbour, Prestwick, by hosting its first Open, gaining Royal patronage on its centenary year. Bear the club's motto, "Tam arte quam marte", in mind when playing Royal Troon. Essentially it translates into golf parlance as "line is more important than distance". Bunkers are everywhere, most of which you can't see from the tees. There’s plenty of deep rough and gorse and broom to punish the wayward shot. Scores can be made on the outward nine holes as the inward nine are severe, often playing into the prevailing wind. Troon's opening holes on the Old Course are relatively gentle with short fours running along the Firth of Clyde providing an opportunity to enjoy the views of Ailsa Craig and Arran. However, the 6th and the 8th are the most varied in Open Championship, being the longest and shortest pars, respectively. In the 1997 Open the 11th was considered to be the most difficult hole in the championship while the 9th hole was expedient at separating the pretenders from the contenders. In the early seventies a course further down the coast was beginning to attract the attention of top golfers. The Ailsa Course at Turnberry was destined to be the third big Ayrshire name to justify its inclusion to the British Open Championship and is now regarded as Ayrshire's top course. Host to four memorable Open Championships, starting in 1977, the Ailsa course has become a legend in the world of golf with the famous contest between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. In brilliant sunny weather Watson's amazing 65 on the last two rounds beat Nicklaus by one shot to win the coveted Claret Jug. Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world not just for its challenging terrain but also for its scenery. The course is ideally set on the rocky headland with views past the lighthouse over the Firth of Clyde towards Ailsa Craig, the Mull of Kintyre and the alluring Isle of Arran reflecting the changing patterns of light and shadow. 'Bruce's Castle' the name given to the par four 9th hole is perhaps Turnberry's trademark. It takes you past the scant remains of Turnberry Castle, at the lighthouse, where King Robert the Bruce was supposedly born. The drive over the rugged shoreline to a blind fairway is not for the faint hearted. You must however realise that stepping foot on these hallowed greens comes with a considerable price tag, notwithstanding possible caddie hire, club hire, caddie carts and don't forget the strict dress code - ignore it at your cost! And I have not mentioned treats like the fine dining these clubs offer. Ayrshire's Golf CoastIn Ayrshire and Arran there are in excess of 40 challenging, mesmerising and playful courses, many along the coast providing the great links golfing experience with stunning seascapes and scenery. This is Ayrshire's Golf Coast where there are many superb links and park courses providing great opportunities to play the sport with packages, discounts or simply teeing off later in the day at a fraction of the normal price. It is called "Twilight Golf" and tends to start after 16:00. Remember there are long summer daylight hours in Scotland which allow this Scottish indulgence. With the sun setting in the west, out at sea the Islands of Arran and Ailsa Craig provide spectacular backgrounds to a relaxing last round. Take the opportunity to explore the Top Golf Courses of Ayrshire's Golf Coast including those that will not weigh so heavily on your pocket as much as the Big Three. Each course has something special to offer from a quiet 9 holes in the evening to taking advantage of the Prestwick Golf Pass and playing all three different courses while you can do all seven of Arran's courses on the Arran Golf Pass. The Isle of Arran has a legendary 12 hole course amongst its scenic fairways. Find out more by viewing Arran's Golf Courses where you can test your mettle while admiring the magnificent Kintyre coastline or view mainland Ayrshire across the Firth of Clyde. You are never far from the sea on Arran's more relaxing golf courses. Never quite sure which is more riveting, the golf or the scenery? Explore Ayrshire's TownsAyrAyr is the most populated settlement in Ayrshire and the administrative centre for South Ayrshire Local Authority. It was in Ayr, in the ancient kirk of St John the Baptist, of which only the tower now stands, that Robert the Bruce held his first parliament after the success of Bannockburn. It is now known as St John's Old Kirk Tower. For centuries Ayr competed with Glasgow as a major seaport but eventually its trade declined. The town’s seaport economy was replaced with a tourist economy as it became a popular Victorian Resort with fine beaches, wide streets and esplanades, now ideal for long walks as far as Greenan Castle or further if doing the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Enthusiastic walkers should look out for the start of the "Lang Scots Mile" a popular visitor attraction with a historical connection to Robert Burns, who mentioned it in Tam O'Shanter. The rather variable Lang Scots Mile is longer than the English mile. The Royal Mile in Edinburgh is now considered to be the acceptable length of 1976 yards making it 1.81km. The 1707 Act of Union sounded the death knell for the use of the Lang Scots Mile adopting the English Mile as the United Kingdom's standard.
One of the Rozelle House Galleries is the home to a collection of 54 paintings by the renowned Scottish artist Alexander Goudie depicting the famous Burns tale of Tam O'Shanter. The MacLaurin Art Gallery occupies the former stables and coach house and exhibits a wide range of internationally and nationally acclaimed artists. The Ayr Flower Show, a premier event in the Scottish calendar, is hosted on the estate of Rozelle House.
Scotland's premiere horse racing venue offers a grand day out whether with Afternoon Tea on the Lawn, fine eating in the Warrior Restaurant or just soaking up the complete horse racing experience in the Chancellor Restaurant. Throughout the year Scotland’s top class race course hosts prestigious hunt and flat races, the two main highlights being the Scottish Grand National in April of every year with the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival taking place in September. The former race attracts the second largest Saturday prize money in the UK’s national hunt season as well as being the fifth largest in terms of UK betting turnover. A wee holiday flutter would not be out of place!
Located in the centre of the town, The Gaiety Theatre and Arts Centre provides live entertainment throughout the year. Look out for their programme of Drama, Music and Comedy, to name but a few. After a lively performance visit the Stage Door Café to wine, dine and mix with the critics. TroonIncluding 'Royal Troon' there is an incredible seven golf courses in Troon, a charming seaside town with sandy beaches, magnificent views and an esplanade that is ideal for walking, cycling and wheelchair use. The bustling harbour, as well as being a seasonal passenger ferry port for Campbeltown, is home to Ayrshire's fish market, which supplies locally-caught fish and seafood to the quality restaurants at the nearby popular Troon Yacht Haven, where you will find your ideal berth for a stopover. It is one of the Clyde's leading sailing centres. Windsurfing and kite surfing are popular on the beach when the wind is favourable, which is often. GirvanThe centre of attraction for Girvan must surely be the harbour which has provided sanctuary for seamen on this part of the Ayrshire coast for centuries. The harbour offers mooring facilities for visiting yachts and a base for its small fishing fleet. You can now set off for a day’s angling or a pleasure trip to Ailsa Craig, the fascinating plug of an extinct volcano with an equally fascinating history, now a bird sanctuary. The town hosts the Ballantrae Food Festival in May while the intriguing Ballantrae Smugglers Festival takes place in July. KilmarnockIn 1820 a little grocer started to blend his own whisky at his shop on King Street, Kilmarnock and so the town started a long relationship with whisky as the little grocer was none other than Johnnie Walker whose enterprising business acumen developed the town into the largest whisky bottling business in the world.
IrvineIrvine was formerly an ancient seaport and Royal Burgh and is now the largest town in North Ayrshire. The Scottish Maritime Museum operates one of two sites in Irvine, the other is in Dumbarton. It houses a collection of ships and small craft together with maritime machinery such as engines, winding gear, shifting tools and dock and harbour equipment: a must for the maritime engineer and small boys. LargsThe town is famous for the 1263 Battle of Largs when a Viking force attempted a landing from their longboats to be eventually repelled by an army under King Alexander III. This Viking heritage is celebrated at Vikingar, a multimedia Viking-themed attraction. The annual Largs Viking Festival, held during September, with battle re-enactments, a Viking Village and Food and Craft demonstrations, culminates in the traditional burning of a Longboat and a fireworks display. Set on the esplanade, Nardinis Café and restaurant is an institution. The art deco building, white and pompous, is the sort of place where coffees will always be frothy and ice cream is best sampled in its decadently delightful forms of Knickerbocker Glories, Ice Cream Sodas, and Pokey Hats. Such treats are not to be missed while Nardinis is difficult to miss! Explore Ayrshire's Islands of Cumbrae and ArranLargs is an excellent base for exploring the west coast island of Cumbrae, being just a few minutes ferry ride across the water. The CumbraesLittle Cumbrae and Great Cumbrae are two islands in the Firth of Clyde. The former is privately owned but the latter is a ten minute ferry ride from Largs. Millport, the only town on the island, is an attractive holiday resort with the smallest cathedral in the United Kingdom. The island is known as the “Island of a Thousand Bikes”, ideal for cycling around its 16km circumference, with marvellous views, few hills and just easy enough for the novice. Don't have a bike! There are a number of Cycle Hire outlets on the island catering for all forms of bike. Many of the walking circuits can be cycled, for example Farland Point Walk, Fintry Bay Walk, Inner Circle Walk and the "Targets" Walk. The Museum of the Cumbraes is located in recently restored Garrison House where you can discover Millport's history, appreciate life on the island during the 2nd World War and be absorbed in the tales of 18th century smuggling. Being surrounded with water means that water sporting activities abound with Canoeing, Windsurfing, Sailing, Diving and Sea Angling all being available. For diving enthusiasts there is a wreck of a Catalina Flying Boat a few hundred metres from the pier. The annual Millport Country Music Festival takes place over a weekend in September when Millport is transformed into “Nashville” with cowboys, red Indians, Confederate soldiers, rodeos, line dancing and a Grand Parade. It caters for all types of Country & Western music. Millport shares Ayrshire's obsession with golf and is not to be in any way outshone by the big guns on the mainland. Millport Golf Club, just over the island's horizon in the above image, offers a challenging par 68. It is said that the biggest challenge is maintaining concentration with such wonderful scenic views to absorb you. Find out for yourself! Explore the Isle of ArranThe Isle of Arran is serviced by two ferry links.
Most tourists will likely leave the mainland from Ardrossan but this is also a very busy crossing, especially in high season, even just a long Easter weekend or bank holiday. To ensure you can take your vehicle across make a booking, something you might rue if you do not. If not taking your own transport local buses coincide with the ferry schedule. Having two ferry ports on the island has proved to be a very popular arrangement. The tourist leaves Ayrshire's mainland, spends time on Arran and continues onto Argyll's magnificent and incredibly long coastline by taking the Lochranza ferry to Claonaig. Please note that this route only operates on a seasonal basis with Tarbert taking over from Claonaig during the off season. The Isle of Arran, shimmering in the reflected sunlight, where Gaelic was once the predominant language, is regarded as a miniaturised version of Scotland. Due to its geological nature, the Highland Boundary Fault runs East-West through the middle of the island creating two different scenarios, a Highland north with rugged peaks and yawning glens while rolling moorland, forested hills, pastures and wooded valleys of the south are comparable to Lowland Scotland. Those similar characteristics extend to traditional Highland Games, Castles, a Whisky Distillery with distillery tours, a Craft Brewery, Wildlife comprising Red Deer and Golden Eagles. Finally the spectacular Highland scenery is ideal for outdoor activities like Walking and Hiking as well as Mountain Biking. Being an island surrounded by water there are numerous opportunities for water sports. This is an island of Celtic saints, an amazing prehistoric heritage with mysterious standing stones, craft workshops and a Viking ancestry. You cannot miss Arran, sitting across the waters of the Firth of Clyde luring visitors with its seductive profile. The ferry trip across the water is an adventure in itself. If you have not had enough golf there is also a unique 12 hole golf course in Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club, described as nothing but a fun family experience playing golf as you would have in the real olden days. There are other sports such as kayaking, horse riding, paragliding, mountain biking and more. If that is too much for you, then simply relax and enjoy the island's hospitality with the most amazing fresh produce which can be savoured in its fine restaurants and hotels. To explore the Isle of Arran in greater depth, what to do, where to do it and when to do it click on the Isle of Arran for more detailed information. Explore Ayrshire's Heritage of Castles and Stately HomesThe castle was built in the 14th century by King Robert II, grandson of Robert the Bruce, to mark his accession to the throne as the first Stewart king of Scotland in 1371. At the top, would have been the royal apartments, where Robert II no doubt died. There are fine views over central Ayrshire.
Don’t miss the pretty little harbour fishing village of Dunure which dates back to the 19th century. There is a picnic area and car park facilities at nearby Kennedy Park with a skate park, children's play area and toilets. The Dunure Inn offers excellent food and accommodation as well as being an excellent stopover on the Ayrshire Coastal Path for walkers after a day of invigorating sea breezes and exercise. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle is one of Scotland’s most spectacularly sited castles. The architect Robert Adam made the best of the location with the grand sea views. There are dazzling features such as the Oval Staircase and the Oval Saloon. It is elegantly furnished and contains the “Eisenhower Presentation” which explains President Eisenhower’s connection with the area. Culzean Country Park surrounds the castle with attractions like the Walled Garden, the Swan Pond, the Deer Park and the Fountain Court, all contributing to a marvellous day out. The well preserved ruins of the abbey sit beside the main Ayr-Stranraer road and give a wonderful idea of the layout of a medieval abbey with some carvings well worth a look. There are some interesting historical anecdotes about the abbey. The monks of Paisley Abbey were given a donation in the 13th century to build the Abbey. They reputedly built nothing more than a small chapel and kept the balance of the funds for their good selves. Duncan of Turnberry, the Earl of Carrick took the matter to the Bishop of Glasgow resulting in the monks having to build a proper abbey. He furthermore endowed the Abbey with the island of Ailsa Craig to "provide for their table". Three hundred years later in 1570 the Earls of Cassillis, who had extensive lands in Ayrshire unsuccessfully tried to appropriate the lands of Crossraguel Abbey by torturing Allan Stuart, the Commendator, the trustee for life, of the benefice of the abbey. Oil was poured over him and he was slowly roasted over the fire to persuade him to sign over the land charter. It is said that two turns of the spit were enough for the Stuart to yield and do as he was told. He did however survive and Cassillis was found out and fined £2,000 for being a naughty boy! This little episode is on of many that took place within the walls of Dunure Castle. The above picture provides an excellent depiction of the abbey prior to its destruction. A Tudor Gothic mansion built between 1821 and 1824 to the designs of the famous Scottish architect William Burn and is open to the public during the summer season. It has a fine collection of paintings by the Scottish Colourists. Glenapp Castle Designed in 1870 by the noted Victorian architect David Bryce for James Hunter, who was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire at the time, Glenapp Castle is now a luxury hotel set within 36 acres of grounds and gardens. This superb Palladian mansion was designed by the Adam brothers in the mid-1700s for the 5th Earl of Dumfries and is one of their finest creative works. Visitors can now join guided tours of this mansion which sits in 2,000 acres of beautiful countryside. Auchenleck House Another literary person associated with Ayrshire is James Boswell, the son of Lord Auchenleck, a Court of Session Judge, who it is thought likely designed Auchenleck House, a fine example of a Scottish country villa of its day. At the end of their famous tour of Scotland and the Hebrides, Boswell and Dr Samuel Johnson, his friend and mentor, stayed at Auchenleck House. It was in the library that Johnson famously argued over politics with Lord Auchenleck. You can now sit in the same library and argue politics with your friends while sipping after dinner drinks and admiring the view over the Firth of Clyde while the sun sets over Arran. Not far from the wee village of Sorn stands Sorn Castle which dates from the 14th century and was built by a branch of the Hamilton family. King James VI once visited the castle to attend the wedding of his Treasurer, Lord Seton. Unfortunately it was during a bad winter and it rendered him quite ill. Later he declared that if he were to play a trick on the devil he would send him from Glasgow to Sorn on a cold winter’s day. Sorn Castle always guarantees more than a warm welcome at any time of the year. Where to Stay in AyrshireExplore the many holiday properties at which you can stay, from traditional to the luxurious 4 and 5 star hotels to the utterly unique and quirky. Enjoy a break in a country house hotel in the heart of Burns Country, or an inn filled with Ayrshire Coastal Way adventurers eager to share their tales. Settle into a hotel with views over the Firth of Clyde with the silhouette of Arran on the horizon shrouded in sea mist. Before turning in enjoy a quiet stroll along Ayrshire's long beaches as the sun falls from the sky in spectacular pyrotechnics. Wherever you choose to stay, Ayrshire will welcome you and your friends and family with genuine warmth. |