Things to do near Ayr Scotland

[wombat girl]

We are off to a short break near Ayr soon.

Can anyone recommend anything around that area to see or do?

Any help would be great

[disney332]

The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is well worth a visit if this floats your boat.

Disney332

[ginwithaslice]

Second the Robbie Burns Museum, liked Ayr town and the beach. Also stopped in Girvan which was nice.

[YorkshireT]

The area is sparsely populated. Wonderful countryside but many of the towns are, shall we say, a little run down. Don’t expect pretty towns but expect fabulous landscapes. My family live in the area.

If you like a nice walk, park in the free car park at Maidens, walk all along the beach and paths to Culzean Castle (nice grounds even if you don’t pay to go in) and there’s Carrick Beach there as well.

The ferry over to Arran is decent for a trip over- just not much over there when you get there.

Go see Trump Turnberry. Lots of castles to look at in area.


Girvan as above, but again, don’t expect that much to be honest.

Good restaurant unless you are heading somewhere like Troon (Scott’s is good there) are not in great supply we went to the newly refurbed Anchorage at Dunure (another castle there too) and had a decent meal. Electric Brea is near there too and some breathtaking views on the A719.

[OB1LukeLucas]

We enjoyed walking around Crawick Multiverse then driving over the hills up to Wanlockhead and Leadhills-highest villages in Scotland. Other years we have been to Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright when we have visited around that area.

[FloRidaLvr]

Nice places to eat in Ayr , The Fox and Willow ( just won an award for restaurant of the year ) The Treehouse . The Growler for a more pub style dining . Lido in Prestwick ( town next door ) Also check out Highgrove House Hotel near Old Loans , Troon .

Dumfries House ( where Prince Charles stays when up here )is nearby with a walled garden and lovely walks , they also have a couple of eating places , one set in the old stables, very cute ! Take a drive to Largs where you can take a ferry to Millport or stay in Largs and have an ice cream or two at Nardini's .

If you get the weather it;s a beautiful area to drive about . There are also a few garden centres which have nice places to eat at too.

Hope you enjoy your visit !

[Stan1805]

My top two would be Alloway the birthplace of Robert Burns and Culzean castle.

[loves_disney]

I would recommend Culzean Castle also - its national trust so if you drive directly there you’ll have to pay to get in, but if you drive to Maidens shore you can park at the beach and walk in that way for free! 😉

There is a new restaurant called Gro that does amazing breakfasts, toasties and after 4 they do pizza and burgers. Check out their Instagram the food really is amazing! It’s right next to a travelogue and Tim hortons but don’t let the location put you off - it’s no brewers fayre.

Prestwick is a much nicer town than Ayr, walking along the Main Street their are plenty of small independent stores and again lots of nice places to eat. Buckley’s cafe across from the b&m does great breakfasts also. Some places for dinner would be Lido, Caprice, Vic and Vine and there is also a weatherspoons which is much more modern and nice compared to others I’ve been in!
I would say the beach at prestwick is probably nicer than Ayr and probably less busy!

The Carrick Hills nearby are good for walks, and if you go a bit further north (20 mins from Ayr) you can go to Whitlee Windfarm which has loads of walks and a really nice visitors centre and cafe.

There is heads of Ayr farm park as well which is great if you have kids.
Croy shore is a lovely bit of beach near there too! There’s also the electric brae which is a fun optical illusion where you can ‘roll up’ a hill.

If you fancy a further drive along the coast to Largs, you can get a short ferry across the water to millport, a wee island that you can hire bikes and cycle round, there is a distillery and crazy golf and a few other things.

Further up to ardrossan and you could go across to Arran, climb goat fell if you like that kinda thing!

The main town of Ayr is run down but there’s still lots to do around the area and Prestwick and Troon are lovely!

[Sandraoh40]

Have a look at The Electric Brae. It’s close to Ayr and a natural phenomenon that’s makes you think your car is going uphill. Very unique thing to do.

[disney_l81]

Lived in Troon and Prestwick for many years. The Brig o Doon always used to be nice- hubby played hockey for Ayr just across the road from the restaurant.