Ayrshire
Robert Burns Country


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Birthplace of the Open Championship
© 2007, 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 golf courses. We have just (May 2004) revisited this enjoyable area and are even more enthusiastic about it than ever.

Here you'll not only find Royal Troon (home of the 2004 Open Championship) and Turnberry (the other Ayrshire golf course on the Open rota), and Prestwick (where the first Open was played in 1860), but a cluster of many other excellent courses as well.

How rich is Ayrshire in golf courses? There are 32 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.

We're using the town of Ayr as the base for golfing in this part of Scotland. The Royal Burgh (pronounced boor-ah) of Ayr is the capital of Ayrshire, and is ideally positioned for all of your activites in this compact area. As always, you'll want to head for the local Tourist Information Centre, located in the Burns House, Burns Statue Square in Ayr. They have Ordnance Survey Maps of the area and lots of good intormation to enhance your stay in 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.


Where to Stay

All of the following lodging is in the town of Ayr, our base for this area. With just one exception, these quality guest houses are 4-star rated. Many good B&Bs are in the area, and these are some we personally like. Each offers first-rate lodging at comfortable rates. You can visit their websites to get a better flavour of them.

Coila Guest House
(0)1292 262642, 10 Holmston Road, Ayr, Scotland, KA7 3BB
e-mail: hazel@coila.co.uk www.coila.co.uk
You'll be warmly welcomed by owners Hazel and Charlie Steele, whose elegant Victorian villa is tasteful, comfortable and well-located, in the centre of town yet quiet and with ample private parking (a real plus). We like everything about the Coila. The four bedrooms are all large with either king-size or twin beds, are beautifully appointed with wonderful fluffy towels and good-sized modern bathrooms. Everything is done first-class. Breakfasts in the attractive dining room are exceptional, and Hazel's hot homemade blueberry muffins are five-star! The railway station is a brief 5 minute walk from the property, Prestwick International Airport is a short drive away, and a large supermarket is less than a 5 minutes' walk. This is a special place and because of their exceptionally good location, you can easily walk to restaurants, pubs, and explore all kinds of shops. The entire Coila Guest House is non-smoking and the Steeles take credit cards.
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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 (3 Star)
(0)1292 264246 , 39 Carrick Road, Ayr , Scotland, KA7 2RD
e-mail: langleybank@ukonline.co.uk
A well-appointed guest house close to the town centre. A large Victorian home on spacious property, offering 6 bedrooms. Most but not all of the rooms are en-suite, so be sure to ask.
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And if you desire the ambiance and amenities of a large hotel, we recommend...
Swallow Station Hotel
(0)1292 263 268 , Burns Statue Square, Ayr, Scotland KA7 3AT
www.swallowhotels.com
The oldest and most famous hotel in Ayr, recently refurbished and in a prime town centre location. Swallow Hotels are one of the leading and fastest growing hotel chains in the UK. John Campbell, Hotel General Manager, takes pride in the excellent service provided by the staff. See their website for more details.
Where to Eat

The town of Ayr offers many good eating places. You'll have no trouble finding them, and your lodging hosts are always able to give you 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

Culzean Castle on Scotland's west coastCulzean Castle
On the way to Turnberry be sure to visit an important landmark --Culzean Castle, only a half-hour drive south of Ayr near the town of Maybole. This is 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 palms 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 (pronounced cul-EEN) 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.
The Scottish Maritime Museum ... 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. 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, since it is so close.