Ayr's prominent landmarks include the Georgian town hall spire and the Auld Brig, thought to date from the 13th century and commemorated in Burns' poem, The Brigs O' Ayr. It was also the place where Robert the Bruce held the country's first Parliament in 1315.
Book one of our Ayr hotels and explore one of Scotland's oldest towns, whose exact age nobody actually knows
Ayr beach
Overlooked by an attractive esplanade, Ayr's sandy beach has been awarded a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. From here you can see the islands of Ailsa Craig, Arran and Pladda, and on a very clear day, the tip of Northern Ireland. On the seafront there's a children's play area and Pirate Pete's Family Entertainment Centre, which has a soft play centre, crazy golf, laser tag and amusement rides. If you like fishing, you can take a boat trip out into the sea and fish for skate, haddock and cod.
Scotland's west coast is beyond beautiful, with rugged mountains, adorable islands, verdant greenery and deep blue seas, and a walk along it is a must-do. You can pretty much walk along the beach for around 30 miles to the north of Ayr and 20 miles to the south. As well as the stunning views, keep an eye out for wildflowers and wildlife including seals, otters, deer, foxes and more than 130 species of bird.
A trip to the seaside wouldn't be complete without an ice cream, and you'll find more than 200 flavours on sale at the award-winning Mancini's Ice Cream in New Road. The Mancini family have run the parlour for more than a century, and you'll find dairy and non-dairy ice cream and fresh fruit sorbets on sale.
Another pleasant spot for a picnic or game of football is the Low Green, just back from the esplanade. This was a major tourist attraction in Victorian times and is home to South Ayrshire's largest play area.
Racing and golf
Ayr Racecourse is the venue for the Scottish Grand National, the Ayrshire Handicap and the Ayr Gold Cup. It was voted best racecourse in Scotland for nine years in a row to 2013 by the Racegoers' Club. The present course dates from 1907, although there has been racing in the town since the 16th century. There are also three golf courses at Belleisle, Seafield and Dalmilling.
Robert Burns
Scotland's national poet was born in Alloway, on the outskirts of Ayr, and is often described as the Bard of Ayrshire. The cottage where he was born is now part of the Robert Burns Birthplace museum, which houses the world's most important collection of his works and objects relating to his life. There are more than 5,500 manuscripts, books, personal artefacts and artworks, including his writing set, a handwritten manuscript of his poem, Tam O'Shanter, and even a cast of his skull. The vast site also includes a monument and gardens created in his honour, as well as the Auld Kirk church and Brig O'Doon bridge immortalised in his poem Tam O'Shanter.
