The
Gulf Stream's warm currents bring the blessings of a mild climate
to the Ayrshire coast, with its holiday resorts dotted among
rocky coves and sandy beaches. Inland are lofty hills cut by
rivers flowing through wooded valleys. Here, too, are ruined
strongholds, reminders of old feuds, and the landscapes, towns
and villages that inspired Scotland's national poet, Robert
Burns.
Alloway
Burns
born in thatched cottage 1759. Some original furniture. Museum
has manuscripts, letters. Close by are Auld Brig 0' Doon and
Alloway Kirk, mentioned in ballad Tam O'Shanter, and Burns Monument.
The Land o'Burns Centre depicts his life and times.
Ardrossan
Town
of stone houses planned by Earl of Eglinton in 1805 round sandy
South Bay. Terminus for Arran shipping services.
Ayr
Main
west coast resort with sandy beaches. Two bridges the 13th-century
Auld Brig and New Bridge of 1788 span River Ayr. Dominated by
1828 Town Buildings, with octagonal turret and 126ft steeple.
Burns mementos in Tam O'Shanter Museum.
Bargany
Gardens
Azaleas
and rhododendrons surround lily pond in woodland setting. Fine
trees, rock garden and walled garden. Picnic area.
Craigie
Castle
Stonework
of 13th-century for-mer Lindsay seat features Gothic ceiling
and barrel-vaulted cellar.
Crossraguel
Abbey
Ruins
of 1244 Cluniac house. Turreted gatehouse, abbot's tower and
dovecote are 15th century.
Crosshill
Once
prosperous handloom weaving centre beside Water of Girvan. Single-storey
cottages line main street.
Culzean
Castle
Cliff-top
mansion designed by Robert Adam in 18th century for 10th Earl
of Cassillis. Lavishly furnished. Oval staircase and round drawing
room overlooking Firth of Clyde. Park contains terraced gardens,
woodland walks.
Cumbrae
Islands
On
Great Cumbrae, reached by ferry from Largs, is Millport resort
with Cathedral of the Isles -- Scot-land's smallest. Museum
and aquarium. Little Cumbrae has lighthouse and ruined castle.
Dalgarven
Mill
Water
mill housing Ayrshire Museum of Countryside and Costume. Farm
machinery, tools, photographs; local costumes.
Dalmellington
Former
ironworks, now open-air museum. Rows of miners' cottages. Industrial
railway centre with locomotives and rolling stock. Visitor centre
in old weaver's cottage.
Dunure
Tiny
yachting harbour lined with fishermen's cottages. Overlooked
by mined castle where in 1570 4th Earl of Cassillis roasted
abbot of Crossraguel alive to make him hand over abbey lands
Eaglesham
Built
1790s on A-shaped plan by 10th Earl of Eglinton. Streets of
weavers' cottages enclose park called the Orry beside river.
Eglinton
Country Park
Large
park round former Eglinton Montgomery estate. Natural history
displays in visitor centre.
Failford
Monument
where Burns is said to have parted from Mary Campbell, his 'Highland
Mary', after exchanging vows. She died the following autumn.
Fairlie
Hunterston
nuclear power station nearby has video displays. Iron ore complex.
Boatyard where Sir Thomas Lipton built racing yachts in l890s.
Waterfalls, gardens, nature trails and adventure course at Kelburn
Country Centre.
Galston
Red-sandstone
buildings include Barr Castle and tower. Church of St Sophia
built 1886, in two-coloured brick imitating Haghia Sophia in
Istanbul, Turkey.
Greenbank
Garden
Sixteen
acres of walled garden, woodland and picnic area.
Heads
of Ayr
Cliffs
topped with grazing land. Ruined 16th-century Greenan Castle.
Inland, picnic areas on Brown Carrick Hill look out to Arran,
Ailsa Craig, Kintyre and Firth of Clyde.
Irvine
Miles
of beaches. Water sports. Harbourside display of historic vessels.
Museum on harbour traces shipbuilding history.
Kildoon
Vitrified
Iron Age fort on rocky ridge overlooking Girvan valley.
Kilmarnock
Burns
monument in Kay Park houses first edition of his poems. Dick
Institute has collection of Scottish broadswords. Restored Dean
Castle has arms and armour, musical instruments and country
park. Guided tours of Johnnie Walker whisky-bottling plant.
Largs
Yachting
centre. Long esplanade and stony beach. Monument to 1263 defeat
of Norse fleet. Hill walk to Douglas Park offers panorama over
sea and mountains. Italian-baroque Skelmorlie Aisle erected
1636 as mausoleum for Sir Robert Montgomerie.
Lochwinnoch
Colour-washed
houses of early 19th century. Cask and barrel-making industry.
Sailing and canoeing on loch in Castle Semple country park.
Nature reserve.
Mauchline
Museum
in house where Burns and wife, Jean Armour, set up home has
displays of granite curling stones made locally. Poosie Nansie's
tavern was the setting for The Jolly Beggars.
Maybole
Restored
17th-century Maybole Castle was town house of Kennedy family.
Earls of Cassillis buried in 14th-century church, now in ruins.
Muirshiel
Country Park
Nature
trails in broad leaved woodland, also conifers and rhododendrons.
Waterfall and moorland view from Windy Hill.
Portencross
Hamlet
on Farland Head with ruined 15th-century castle and vitrified
Iron Age fort.
Prestwick
Promenade
runs round curve of Ayr Bay. First Open golf championship played
here 1860. Mercat Cross is 13th century, ruined Church of St
Nicholas 12th century. Robert Bruce said to have taken waters
of Bruce's Well to relieve skin disease.
Rozelle
House
Georgian
mansion in 96 acre park. Woodlands, sculptured gardens, nature
trails, wildfowl pond. Local history displays.
Saltcoats
Seaside
resort. Good fishing. Sea wall built 1686. Harbour contains
fossilised trees seen at low tide. Museum in 18th-century church.
Sorn
Village
laid out 1770 on Ayr banks. Castle with 15th-century tower:
1650 church has outside staircase.
Tarbolton
Former
weaving and mining village. Burns founded Bachelors' Club debating
society, now museum with relics of poet.
Troon
Turreted
red-sandstone Victorian buildings look across Ayr Bay. Five
golf courses. Sandy beach, marina and harbour.
Turnberry
Silver
sands backed by dunes run for 1½ miles. Two golf courses. Robert
Bruce said to have been born at Turnberry Castle.
If
you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized
small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:
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