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Below is a list of the top attractions in and
around Ayr Town. Ayr Train Station is next to Burns
Statue Square, close to the top of the High Street,
main shopping street. The centre of Ayr is the Town
Hall where the High Street meets the Sandgate. Ayr
Beach is about 1 mile west of the Train Station, half
of a mile west of the Sandgate.
Ayr Bus Station is on the Sandgate.
Each Attraction has a Post-Code that gives a link
to a Google Map for Directions and Reviews where
possible.
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Ayr Horse Racing
Ayr Racecourse is one mile north of Ayr town centre.
The two largest fixtures are the Scottish Grand
National jumps meeting, in April 3rd week, and the
Ayr Gold Cup flat meeting, in September 3rd week. The
Western House Hotel at the
racecourse has one of the towns most popular
restaurants.
Website . Postcode:
KA8 0JE
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Ayr Beach
Runs from the Harbour for over 1 mile south, one of
the largest and busiest Beaches in Scotland. There is
also the vast Low Green grassland that runs alongside
the Beach for lazing around, family games, kiting,
putting and is used for a few events throughout the
year. The Horizon Hotel overlooks the
beach with a fine bar diner.
Postcode: KA7 1EQ . Image
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Pirate Pete's
Kids adventure play at Ayr Beach is a large indoor
and outdoor Kids Play area that is extremely popular
with Scotland's largest indoor adventure play,
Scotland's first mini championship putting course. A
traditional seafront tearoom and kids outdoor fun
park. Tel: 01292 265 300.
Website . KA7 1EQ . Image
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Wellington Square
In front of the large Court Building, next to Pirate
Pete's by the Beach. The Court and Wellington Square
were built around 1822, now with bar diners,
restaurants and ice cream shops around. St Johns Tower and Tennis Courts are just
to the right in this Image.
Large Image . Map
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Ayr Citadel
Large indoor swimming pools and leisure centre. By
Ayr Beach with Swimming Facilities at the Citadel
include 3 swimming pools. The main pool, a 25m, 6
lane pool, teaching pool and a flexi pool with
moveable floor. All pools have disabled access and
host a number of water based activities such as:
early bird and ladies only sessions, fun kid's
sessions, diving, club activities, lessons and aqua
aerobics.
Website . Postcode:
KA7 1JB
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Ayr Fort
Next to the Citadel by the Harbour, built for Oliver
Cromwell in the 1600s during the English Civil War
that spread into Scotland. There are remains of the
Walls, Cannon and Information Boards explaining its
History.
Information . Postcode:
KA7 1HE
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Waverley Paddle
Steamer
Trips to the southwest coast Islands. The Waverley
paddle steamer steams out of Ayr to the islands of
Ailsa Craig, Cumbrae, Bute and Arran from May until
August. The Monday evening cruise around the bird
sanctuary of Ailsa Craig is extremely popular. This
is the only seagoing paddle steamer in the world. The
departure point is from Ayr Harbour, by the large
Citadel Sports Centre.
Website . Postcode:
Map
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Loudoun Hall
Up from the Harbour by the River at the bottom of the
High Street. This is the Oldest Dwelling House
remaining in Ayr, built in 1513, can be visited at
times.
Website . Postcode:
KA7 1HR
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Auld Brig & River Ayr
Walk
River Ayr Walk starts at the Auld Brig or from the
Auld Kirk, both just off Ayr High Street. Cross over
to the north side of the river then walk east past
Ayr College into Graigie Estate. You can walk round
Craigie House and Gardens. The walk can be extended
east about 1 mile further on along the river to
Dalmilling Golf Course. You can then cross Craigie
Bridge to the River Ayr Stepping Stones. The Auld
Brig was built from 1470.
Website . Photo Tour .
Map
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Wallace Statue
Can be found just off the High Street where it merges
with Newmarket Street. William Wallace was said to
have been imprisoned in a Tolbooth here by the
English during the First War of Scottish Independence
in 1297. The Statue is on the first floor of a Town
House claimed to have been built on the site of the
Old Tolbooth.
Large Image . KA7 1LJ
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Auld Kirk of Ayr
Can be found just off the High Street by the River
Ayr via a lane named Kirport. Built in 1654 on the
site of a former Black Friars Monastery with funds
from Oliver Cromwell.
Website . KA7 1TT
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The Wallace Tower
Can be found in the middle of Ayr High Street.
Completed in 1858 at 60 ft high with the Wallace
family Coat of Arms above the entrance. You used to
be able to go to the top for views, but not just now?
William Wallace led
the Scots to victory over the English at Stirling
Bridge in 1297.
Large Image . KA7 1PZ
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Burns Statue Square
Can be found at the top of the High Street in front
of the Train Station. The main Monument in the Square
is in Honour of the Poet Robert Burns who died in
died in 1796. Burns was born in Alloway on the south side of Ayr. There is
also a Monument in honour of the Royal Scots
Fusiliers who used to be based in Ayr. The Astoria Cinema is at the Square.
Large Image .
Map
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LABowl
On Miller Road just down from Burns Statue Square.
Tenpin Bowling, LAzerzone, Pool, Amusements, Bar, and
American themed Bar Diner. An ideal venue for all the
family. Tel. 01292 611 511.
Website . Postcode:
KA7 2AX
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Prestwick Town on the north side
of Ayr
Prestwick is joined to Ayr with regular buses from
Ayr Bus Station. The town has a few unique shops,
restaurants, many bar diners, indoor tennis, long
sandy beach and large indoor kids play. The top
attraction is the historic Prestwick Golf Club,
situated in the town centre by the train station.
This is where the first Open was played from 1860 to
1872. You can visit the pro shop and Trophy Area for some pictures, but
you are not allowed in the clubhouse itself.
Photo Tour . Map
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Greenan Castle
By the beach 2 miles south of Ayr centre. Greenan
Castle is a ruin on rocks at the south end of Ayr
Beach built for the Kennedy's in the 1600s. This is a
popular walk along the beach or by a path beside the
beach. The walk crosses the River Doon Millennium
Bridge where there is also a scenic riverside walk.
You can also walk past the castle out to the Heads of
Ayr Cliffs, about another mile.
Ayr to
Greenan Page . History . Map
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Belleisle Park &
Golf
Country park south side of Ayr with two extremely
popular golf courses, Belleisle and Seafield. The
park also has a scenic walled garden, kids play, grass
leisure area in front of the hotel, woodland walks,
deer park and tea room. It is a two mile walk from
Ayr centre to the park or there are regular buses
from Ayr Bus station 1 each hour and drops off or
pick up at the entrance of Rozelle Estate and
Belleisle Estate east entrance, just before Alloway
Burns Centre.
AS Page
. Website . KA7 4DU . Image
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Rozelle Park
Park and Art Gallery south side of Ayr. Rozelle Park
is a country estate on the south side of Ayr with
scenic walks, ponds, sculpture garden, tea room and
The Maclaurin Galleries are housed in what were the
stables and servants quarters. Rozelle Park is just
under two miles south of Ayr centre. Buses leave Ayr
Bus station 1 each hour and drops off or pick up at
the entrance of Rozelle Estate, just before Alloway
Burns Centre.
AS Page .
KA7 4NQ . Rear Image
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Robert Burns Birthplace
Museum
On the south side of Ayr in Alloway Village. The poet
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is situated in Alloway
Village on the south side of Ayr, about 2 miles from
Ayr centre. Alloway is one of the most scenic places
in Scotland with the Auld Brig, Auld Church, Brig o
Doon Hotel, Burns Cottage, Poets Walk, Memorial
Gardens, and the impressive new Visitor Centre. The
Brig o Doon Hotel has a good restaurant, tea room and
scenic gardens. Buses run
between Ayr and Alloway about 1 an hour.
Web Page .
Walk .
YO1 7JL . Image
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Heads of Ayr Farm Park
5 miles south of Ayr centre. This is a popular park
with locals, visitors and coach tours with almost 50
different types of animal, each with its own
particular charm. The park is packed with fantastic
activities like indoor and outdoor play areas, an
aerial runway, thrilling ringo sledging, tunnel land
and the combine castle. Regular buses run between Ayr
Bus Station and Dunure with a stop at the farm park.
Tel: 01292 441 210.
Website . Postcode: KA7 4LD
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Dunure Castle
7 miles south of Ayr centre. Dunure Castle is
situated at the scenic coastal village of Dunure on
the A719 road. This is another Kennedy ruin from the
1300s with an interesting history. Dunure has a
popular Inn for meals, cafe and Kennedy Park with a
kids play area and large play area for families. The
rocky beach is a popular place to explore. The
Bus 361 runs about 1
an hour between Ayr Bus Station and Dunure.
History and
Images . Map . Image
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Croy Brae / Electric
Brae
10 miles south by Dunure. Croy Brae on the A719
coastal road with views over the sea and Culzean
Castle. This part of the road looks as if it is going
up hill. It is so confusing, many people put their
cars in neutral then wait to see which way it runs.
There is a car park in the middle of the hill with a
large stone with inscriptions trying to explain the
illusion.
Stone
Inscriptions . Map . Image
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Culzean Castle
13 miles south of Ayr. Culzean Castle is one of the
most impressive castles in Scotland. This was the
main castle of the Kennedy's for centuries until they
handed it over to the National Trust for Scotland in
1945. The castle grounds are huge with woodland
walks, a massive walled garden, and deer park. Bus
No 60/360 runs
between Ayr Bus Station and Maidens and Girvan
dropping off and picking up at Culzean Estate
entrance, about one an hour. There is about a 1 mile
walk from the bus stop at the Estate entrance to the
Castle.
History
Images . KA19 8LE . Image
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Turnberry
17 miles south of Ayr. Turnberry is one of the most
scenic places in Scotland. There is roadside parking
between Turnberry and Maidens with a signed path
through the golf courses to Turnberry Lighthouse,
built on the ruins of Turnberry Castle, birthplace of
King Robert the Bruce. There is a snack bar at the
Lighthouse with great views, although a little
expensive. There is also a monument on a hill by the
Lighthouse that is popular for visits, for airmen
that lost their lives at Turnberry Airfield during
WWII. Buses run between Ayr Bus Station and Maidens,
Turnberry and Girvan, about one an hour.
History
and Images . Map . Image
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Kirkoswald Village
13 miles south of Ayr. Kirkoswald is popular for the
history of the poet Robert Burns as this is where all
the characters for his poem Tam O Shanter lived, with
many of their graves in the old church yard. The
village is also popular for the House of Burns bar
diner and tearoom. Also the Whiskey Experience where
you can find top Scottish Whisky and pour your own
bottle from a cask. Regular buses run between Ayr Bus
Station, Kirkoswald and Girvan, about one an
hour.
History and
Images . Map . Image
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Crossraguel Abbey
11 miles south of Ayr by Kirkoswald. Founded in 1244
for the 1st Earl of Carrick, one of the best
preserved Abbey's in Scotland. Regular buses run
between Ayr Bus Station, Kirkoswald and Girvan, about
one an hour.
History
and Images . Map
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Straiton Village
14 miles southeast of Ayr. Straiton is a scenic small
village popular for its walking and hiking routes,
especially the hike to the Hunter Monument at 1,086ft
above the village. The village has a cafe and inn for
snacks and drinks. Bus 361 runs between
Ayr Bus Station and Straiton.
Photo
Tour . KA19 7NF . Image
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Loch Doon
17 miles east of Ayr. Loch Doon is about 7 miles long
with a cafe, castle ruin to explore, osprey's
nesting, used by many canoeists, fishermen, has a
scenic gorge trail, and hikes from 800ft to 2,600ft,
all with great views over the loch.
Photo Page .
Map . Image
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Dumfries House
14 miles east of Ayr. Dumfries House is one of
Britain's top stately homes in 2,000 acres of land.
This stunning 18th-Century house has an unrivalled
collection of original furniture, something for
everyone. Tel: 01290 425 959.
Photo
Tour . KA18 2NJ . Image
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Crawick Multiverse
31 miles east of Ayr by the village of Sanquhar.
Scotlands Stone Henge completed in 2015 to the design
of Charles Jencks. The Nithsdale Hotel in
Sanquhar has a bar and restaurant for drinks, coffee
and meals, situated next to the Tolbooth Museum.
Photo Page . Map . Image
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Wanlockhead
40 miles east of Ayr 9 miles past the Crawick
Multiverse. The highest village in Scotland where you
can pan for gold, visit a mining museum and have a
drink in the village pub at over 1,500ft above sea
level. The drive from Sanquhar up to Wanlockhead is
amazing.
Photo Page . Map . Image
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