Ayr
Contents |
Guide to Ayr in Scotland
Intrduction | Ayr | Largs and Great Cumbrae Island | Irvine | Troon
===Introduction to Ayr=== Phone code: +44 (0)1292
The largest town in southwest Scotland, looking west out on to the Firth of Clyde and Arran, Ayr has been a popular seaside resort since Victorian times. The town's 2€ miles of sandy beach, together with Scotland's most important racecourse, continue to attract hordes of visitors from nearby Glasgow. Ayr is best known for its many connections with Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, who was born in the neighbouring village of Alloway and who famously praised the town for its 'honest men and bonnie lasses'.
Travel to Ayr
The bus station is in the centre of town at the foot of Sandgate, close to the post office. The train station is a 10-min walk east, on Station Rd. There are frequent buses and trains to and from Glasgow, Dumfries and Stranraer. There are trains every 30 mins to and from Glasgow Central (50 mins), and several daily to Stranraer (1� hrs). For all rail enquiries, call Tel 08457-484950. For a taxi, call CentralTaxis, Tel 267655.
The Tourist Information Centre is at 22 Sandgate near the Town Hall, at the opposite end of the main shopping street from the bus and rail stations, Tel 678100. Apr-June Mon-Sat 0900-1700; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 0900-1800, Sun 1000-1700; Sep Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1100-1700; Oct-Mar Mon-Sat 0900-1700.
Sightseeing in Ayr
Most of Ayr's important sights are contained within the Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway (see below), but there are a few places of interest dotted around the cramped streets of Ayr's old town, to the south of the River Ayr. To the west of Sandgate, off Bruce Terrace, is St John's Tower, the only surviving part of the 12th-century Church of St John the Baptist. It was here, in 1315, that Robert the Bruce called a meeting of the Scots parliament to decide his successor to the throne. In 1652 Cromwell's army incorporated the church into a fort which they built. Guided tours are available for groups by arrangement with Sheena Andrew at the Carnegie Library, Main Street (Tel 282109), or you can get the key to the tower from the Council offices on Burns Statue Square (£2 deposit required).
As compensation for taking over the Church of St John, in 1654 Cromwell donated money to build the Auld Kirk at the end of Kirk Port, a narrow lane leading off the High Street. The church retains its original canopied pulpit, and in the lych gate you can see iron grave-covers used to protect corpses from the body snatchers who sold them to medical schools. A short distance away is the Auld Brig, the 13th-century bridge immortalized by Burns in his poem Twa Brigs. At 230 High Street is the Tam o' Shanter Inn, an ancient thatched pub where the eponymous hero enjoyed an evening of alcoholic excess before mounting his trusty mare, Meg, and setting off on his near-disastrous journey home to Kirkoswald. The pub is now a shrine to the bard and its walls are covered with many of his greatest quotes. A few yards away on the High Street is the Wallace Tower, which commemorates the Scottish patriot, William Wallace, who was imprisoned in the town in 1297, for setting fire to a barn with 500 English soldiers inside.
At the top of the High Street, where it meets Sandgate, is the impressive spire of the Town Buildings, and opposite is Loudoun Hall, a former merchant's house which dates from 1470 and has been recently refurbished (tours by arrangement with Sheena Andrew, Carnegie Library, see above). Turn left before you reach New Bridge and head along South Harbour Street to reach the harbour, where you can arrange a cruise on board the Waverley, the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer. They leave on Tuesday and Wednesday only from early July to the end of August. For bookings or further information, Tel 0141-243 2224, or check at the tourist office. Also ask at the tourist office for details of other boat trips from Ayr harbour.
The beach lies to the southwest of the town centre, overlooked by the long Esplanande and backed by a grid-iron of streets lined with elegant Victorian villas. This is where you'll find most of the guesthouses, particularly around Wellington Square. There are also many guesthouses and B&Bs on Carrick Road at the south end of town, and Prestwick Road at the north end.
The heart of Burns country is Alloway, formerly a separate village a few miles south of Ayr, but now swallowed by its spreading suburbs. On the road to Alloway from Ayr is the impressive Rozelle House and Park. Built originally around 1760, the house now holds the Tam o' Shanter series of paintings by Alexander Goudie, a must for those who want an insight into Burns' colourful work. It also houses the Ayrshire Yeomonry Museum, and has various temporary exhibitions. Good coffee shop and craft shop focussing on quality local crafts.
Info:Oct-Mar Mon-Sat 1000-1700, and Apr-Nov Sun 1400-1700. Free. Tel 445447.
A 10-minute walk down the road brings you to the Burns National Heritage Park. The best place to start is the Burns Cottage and Museum, the low, thatched, whitewashed 'auld clay biggin' where the poet was born on 25 January 1759 and spent the first seven years of his life. The museum contains original manuscripts, books, paintings and other memorabilia, plus a brief history of his life.
Info:Apr-Sep daily 0930-1730, Oct-Mar daily 1000-1700. £3, concession £1.50. Tel 441215.
Nearby is the Tam o' Shanter Experience, a modern building housing an audio-visual theatre telling the story of Tam o' Shanter, a funny and frightening poem and a cautionary tale of the consequences of alcoholic over-indulgence. There's also a well-stocked gift shop and a restaurant.
Info: Same opening hours as above. £1.50, £0.75 concession. Tel 443700.
Across the road are the ruins of Alloway Kirk, where Robert Burns' father, William, is buried. This was the setting for the famous scene in Tam o' Shanter when Tam stumbles across a wild orgy of witches, warlocks and demons. When he gets carried away watching one particularly winsome witch, Nannie, and screams out his encouragement, the ghouls give chase and Tam and his mare, Meg, narrowly escape, minus Meg's tail, across the Brig o' Doon, the 13th-century humpbacked bridge which still stands nearby, spanning the River Doon. Overlooking the bridge is the ostentatious Burns Monument, a Neoclassical temple which houses a display. There are statues of various Burns characters in the gardens.
Info: Same opening hours as the Burns Cottage and Museum in summer; closed winter. £1, £0.50 concession.
As a change from Robert Burns you can visit the Dunaskin Heritage Centre, Waterside, Dalmellington Road, about 12 miles south of Ayr off the A713. It deals with the iron-working heritage of the area and has two audio-visual presentations, an interactive computer quiz and a restored 1914 iron worker's cottage. As it is in the heart of mining country there is also a simulated mine tour.
Info: Apr-Oct daily 1000-1700. £4.50, £3.75 concession.
Sleeping
Located on the Espande in the Seaside town of Ayr, with fantastic views of the Isle of Arran and we are a pet friendly hotel. more details about Horizon
No arguments about the most luxurious hotel in town: the Fairfield House Hotel, 12 Fairfield Rd, Tel 267461, 45 rooms. Near the seafront, luxury facilities and excellent restaurant and conservatory brasserie. Late Rooms Availability for Fairfield House Hotel in Ayr
In Alloway is the Ivy House, Tel 442336, www.theivyhouse.uk.com 5 rooms. This comfortable country house is convenient for the Burns Trail and has a good restaurant. Another high-class hotel is the Savoy Park Hotel, 16 Racecourse Rd, Tel 266112, The Savoy Park Hotel
There's also the comfortable Brig O'Doon Hotel, Tel 442466, Brig O'Doon Hotel, which has a good restaurant.
Adjacent to the station is the Swallow Station Hotel, a traditional hotel which has been recently refurbished. Late Rooms Availability for Swallow Station Hotel in Ayr
On the seafront is the 3 star, family and pet-friendly Horizon Hotel. Late Rooms Availability for Horizon Hotel in Ayr
About 7 miles east of Ayr is the charming old Stair Inn
There are numerous comfortable guesthouses and B&Bs in the Victorian new town, in the streets and squares between Alloway Pl and the Esplanade. On Queens Terr are: Craggallan Guest House at No 8, Tel 264998, Craggallan Guest House Dargil Guest House at No 7, Tel 261955; Daviot House at No 12, Tel 269678, www. daviothouse.com; and Queens Guest House at No 10, Tel 265618. There are also several small guesthouses and B&Bs on the streets between Alloway Pl and Burns Statue Square. On Bellevue Cres are The Crescent, at No 26, Tel 287329, www.26crescent.freeserve.co.uk; and Glenmore Guest House at No 35, Tel 269830, Glenmore Guest House. On Park Circus are Belmont Guest House at No 15, Tel 265588, belmontguesthouse@bt.internet.com; and Richmond Guest House at No 38, Tel 265153, Richmond Guest House
Cheaper accommodation is available at the SYHA Youth Hostel, at 5 Craigweil Rd, about a 20-min walk south of the town centre, off Alloway Pl, Tel 262322, www.syha.org.uk, open Mar-Dec.
There are a couple of good campsites in and around Ayr. Craigie Gardens Caravan Club Site, is only a 10-min walk from the centre, Tel 264909, Caravan Club open all year; and Heads of Ayr Caravan Park, 5 miles south of town on the A719 to Culzean, Tel 442269, open Mar-Oct.
There's plenty of accommodation, but during the busy high season and important race meetings it's still a good idea to book in advance.
Eating
There are several eating places which stand out. Best of all is Fouters, 2a Academy St, Tel 261391. This bistro/restaurant in a converted bank basement opposite the town hall offers superb French-influenced cuisine using the very best of local fish, seafood, game and beef. Lunch cheap; dinner expensive. Open Mon-Sat.
Also recommended is The Stables Coffee House & Restaurant, Queens Ct, 41 Sandgate, Tel 283704. A small, friendly place offering traditional Scottish dishes and excellent cakes, scones and ice cream, all at cheap prices. No smoking. Open daily till 1700 (closed Sun during winter). Another fine place to eat is the Tudor Restaurant, 8 Beresford Terr, Tel 261404. More of a café really and serves great home-cooked meals and high teas. Open Mon-Sat 0900-2000, Sun 1200-2000 (Jun, Jul and Aug and 1st 2 weeks in Sep till 2100).
Another great cafe is the Hunny Pot, at 37 Beresford Terr, Tel 263239, Mon-Sat 0900-2200, Sun 1030-2100. Many of the pubs also serve cheap lunches. There are many bars clustered around Burns Statue Sq, and of course there's the Tam o' Shanter Inn, Tel 611684 (see 'Sights' above).
Sport
Cycling: AMG Cycles, 55 Dalblair Rd, Tel 287580. Rents bikes for £15 per day, or £15 per weekend.
Golf: There's an excellent 18-hole public course at Belleisle Park, Tel 441258. Horse racing: Ayr Racecourse is at 2 Whitletts Rd, Tel 264179, Ayr Racecourse It's the premier racecourse in Scotland and holds 25 days of racing throughout the year, including the Scottish Grand National in mid-Apr. Horse riding: Ayrshire Equestrian Centre, South Mains, Corton Rd, Tel 266267. Cross country course, hacks and lessons from £14 per hr.
Websites about Ayr on Scotland.org.uk
Self Catering Cottages in Ayr
- Martnaham Bothy Sleeps 6