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Ayrshire


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Birthplace of the Open Championship

© 2009, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla

Welcome to Ayrshire--land of Robert Burns, the Vikings, Scotland's premier horse-racing venue, and a brilliant array of fine Scottish links golf courses. Here you'll find not only Royal Troon and Turnberry (the two Ayrshire courses on the British Open Championship rota), and Prestwick (where the very first Open was played in 1860), but a cluster of many other excellent Scottish golf courses as well.

Being an independent golfing traveler makes it easy for you to experience and enjoy Ayrshire.
The seacoast town of Ayr, hub for golf
Ayr, a seaside town with lots of eateries and lodging, originated in the 8th Century and was given "Royal Burgh" status in 1202.

How rich is Ayrshire in golf courses? There are 32 golf courses within a 20 minutes drive from the town of Ayr, the largest town in Ayrshire. And because the Gulf Stream lies off the coast here and keeps the greens frost-free, golf can be played all year. Ayrshire is historical and picturesque. If you're a Robert Burns fan, this is the place to be. And for the golfer...well, Ayrshire's links-fringed coast is a feast.
The town of Ayr is our base for golfing in this part of Scotland. The Royal Burgh (say boor-ah) of Ayr is the capital of Ayrshire, and is ideally positioned for all of your activites in this area. The local Tourist Information Centre islocated in the Burns House, Burns Statue Square in Ayr. They have Ordnance Survey Maps of the area and lots of good into to enhance your stay. Prestwick International Airport is only a short drive away.

Where to stay in Ayr

Many good B&Bs in the area. Here are some we personally like. Each offers first-rate lodging at comfortable rates. All are in the town of Ayr and all are 4-star rated.

Coila Guest House
(0)1292 262642, 10 Holmston Road, Ayr, Scotland, KA7 3BB
e-mail: hazel@coila.co.uk www.coila.co.uk
Elegant Victorian villa. Tasteful, comfortable and well-located in the centre of town yet quiet and with ample private parking (a major plus). All four bedrooms are large with king-size or twin beds, and good-sized modern bathrooms. Everything is done first-class. Breakfasts are exceptional, and Hazel's hot homemade blueberry muffins are five-star. You can easily walk to restaurants, pubs, all kinds of shops, the railway station, and a large supermarket.
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Craggallan Guest House www.craggallan.com
(0)1292 264998, 8 Queens Terrace, Ayr, Scotland, KA7 1DU
e-mail: margot@craggallan.com www.craggallan.com
Immaculate guest house run by gracious Margot McLaughlan. Five very attractive en-suite rooms, near the sea.
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The Crescent Guest House
(0)1292 287 329, 26 Bellevue Crescent, Ayr, Scotland ,KA7 2DR
e-mail: carrie@26crescent.freeserve.co.uk
www.26crescent.freeserve.co.uk
Quiet yet very convenient location. An opulent Victorian home with spacious, sunny, comfortable.rooms, one of which is a beautiful four-poster bedroom.
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Langley Bank Guest House
(0)1292 264246 , 39 Carrick Road, Ayr , Scotland, KA7 2RD
A well-appointed guest house close to the town centre. Large Victorian home on spacious property, offering 6 bedrooms. Most but not all of the rooms are en-suite, so be sure to ask.
www.accommodation-ayr.co.uk/langleybank.htm
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Where to eat in Ayr

The town of Ayr offers many good eating places. You'll have no trouble finding them. We always find that asking our lodging hosts gives us the best suggestions. If you are staying at any of the above places in town, a short 5 minute walk will bring you to the Tudor Inn, a simple and attractive eatery with good food and good prices. We have always had a nice meal here.


What to do all day in Ayrshire

Culzean Castle on Scotland's west coastCulzean Castle
On the way to Turnberry be sure to visit an important landmark --Culzean Castle(pronounced cul-EEN),only a half-hour drive south of Ayr near the town of Maybole. My favorite "must see" in this part of Scotland, the stunning building, designed by Robert Adam and completed in 1792, is gloriously perched on a cliff above the sea. The grounds are spectacular, with (believe it or not) palm trees and other sub-tropical plants that thrive here in a climate warmed by the Gulf Stream. The Country Park that surrounds the castle has been described as "Britain's most beautiful." But this Scottish National Trust property is rightly famous for one other reason--General (later President) Eisenhower was given an apartment in the castle as thanks for his commanding of Scottish troops in World War II. To visit his rooms and see his eyeglassses on his desk and all the fascinating photos and memorabilia of his times at Culzean was a very moving experience for me. You will find Culzean easily on your Ordnance Survey Map of Ayrshire, and it is clearly signposted along the roads. Allow enough time to savour the place.
Burns Cottage, birthplace of Robert Burns

Good websites --
www.burnsheritagepark.com
www.robertburns.org
 Robert Burns
In Alloway, 2 miles south of Ayr, is the Burns National Heritage Park where you can experience the romance and the genius of one of Scotland's great literary figures. The Park is a collection of some of the most famous Burns-related sites in the area, including his birthplace, the Burns Cottage, and the museum.		 Scottish poet, Robert Burns

Scottish Maritime MuseumScottish Maritime Museum

Located in Irvine, a few miles north of Ayr, is an excellent museum of ships and boats and maritime history. I happen to relish these things, and if they interest you, I certainly recommend this to you. You can go aboard the world's oldest clipper ship, the Carrick. And you can explore old Clyde "puffers" and tugs. Nearby at 122 Montgomery Street you can see the living conditions of shipyard workers from a century ago, all carefully restored to its original condition. This is the kind of place I enjoy visiting and reommending to you, as it is not the usual tourist attraction but rather an authentic bit of history.
 www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org ... Laird Forge, Gottries Road, Irvine


Ayr Racecourse, one of Great Britain's premier racetracks, is in Ayr. Founded over 200 years ago, racing probably took place on that site as far back as the 16th Century. The track is open most of the year, so check when you're there to find out the schedule.

Day trip to Glasgow. If you wish, you can easily take a train from the Ayr railway station and spend a day in the city of Glasgow (pronounced Glass-coh). Check with the Tourist Information Centre in Ayr for brochures and suggestions for what to see and how to get around. Glasgow is noted for its excellent examples of fine architecture...notably that of Charles Rennie Macintosh, whose art and architectural design have been a great influence on the western world. Visit the museum devoted to his work, and also see some of the buildings. If you are interested in architecture, you'll want to take advantage of the opportunity to visit Glasgow, because it is so close.