An hour west of Glasgow on Scotland’s west coast, the town of Ayr draws visitors with its long, sandy beach and pretty esplanade. Many also come to pay tribute to Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns—he was born in nearby Alloway, home to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Ayr is also well-known for Ayr Racecourse, home of the Scottish Grand National, and is a convenient base for exploring the wild and wonderful southwest coast. Things to do here include mountain biking, kayaking, white-water rafting, and exploring the offshore islands of Arran, Cumbrae, and Bute.
Ayr is typically most-visited in the summer months of June through August, when temperatures range from mild to warm and daylight hours are long. Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are also good options for fewer crowds and typically mild conditions. Winter, on the other hand, is dark and gloomy but is livened up around January 25 when Burns Night festivities celebrating the national bard are in full swing.
There’s no need to have your own vehicle in Ayr as the town center is compact and easy to get around on foot. Ayr is connected to Glasgow by regular trains that take around an hour. Frequent local buses can get you to most places of interest in the surrounding area, such as Alloway, a 10-minute bus ride away, and Culzean Castle (45 minutes).
The volcanic plug of Ailsa Craig dominates the Firth of Clyde with its distinctive pyramid shape. The uninhabited island is today a reserve, live on only by birds such as Atlantic puffins and northern gannets. You can visit by booking a boat tour departing from Girvan, which is just a 25-minute train ride from Ayr.
