Discover Ayrshire & Arran

Make the short drive from Glasgow to Ayrshire, where the historic town of Ayr awaits. Ayr boasts a fantastic esplanade alongside a long sandy beach where you can enjoy superb views to the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran.

Rabbie Burns immortalised his hometown with the line “auld Ayr, wham ne’er a town surpasses, for honest men and bonnie lassies”.
Overnight – Ayrshire

Immerse yourself in Burns country today and learn more about Scotland’s favourite son. Visit the award-winning Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and visit eerie Alloway Auld Kirk, the churchyard where witches danced in the moonlight in Burns’ famous poem Tam O’Shanter.

The area also offers excellent walking opportunities, with the Ayrshire Coastal Path traversing the majestic coastline and providing panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde. Further south the region becomes hillier, with rolling moorlands and hills merging into the rugged uplands of Galloway.
Overnight – Ayrshire

Historic Ayrshire is home to no fewer than twenty castles. One of the finest is Culzean Castle where you can marvel at the incredible architecture designed by Robert Adam, and discover why President Eisenhower had his own private suite inside the castle. Enjoy a stroll around Culzean Country Park, which encompasses lush woodland, landscaped gardens and rugged coastline.

While Culzean Castle was built for grandeur, nearby Dundonald Castle was built for defence and is regarded as the cradle of the powerful Stuart dynasty who went on to rule both Scotland and England. History is around every corner in Ayrshire.
Overnight – Ayrshire

Enjoy a spectacular coastal drive to the old fishing port of Girvan, where you can take a boat trip to Ailsa Craig. This unique place is a haven for gannets, puffins, seals and porpoises, and has a fascinating history of piracy, smuggling and even Spanish invasion!

Explore the ruins of Turnberry Castle, the birthplace of Scotland’s greatest king, Robert the Bruce. Bruce led his vastly outnumbered army to victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, securing Scotland’s independence for 400 years.

Overnight – Ayrshire

Travel by ferry across the Firth of Clyde where the beautiful Isle of Arran awaits. This wonderful island offers something for everyone, with impressive mountains, sandy beaches, fantastic walking opportunities, relaxing spas, ancient castles, and much more.
Overnight – Isle of Arran

Explore 800 years of history at Brodick Castle, a grand baronial-style castle dramatically set against the backdrop of Arran’s highest mountain. With its terraced lawns and renowned collections of period furniture and paintings, Brodick Castle is the very image of a Victorian Highland estate.

Travel back in time at Machrie Moor where you’ll find standing stones dating back to 3,500 BC. You could also enjoy a boat trip, sea-kayaking, or hike a section of the wonderful Arran Coastal Way.
Overnight – Isle of Arran

Arran has gained an international reputation for its excellent local produce, and today you could spend a full day enjoying the Arran Taste Trail. Try locally made cheese from the Bellevue Creamery on an Arran oatcake, and sample excellent whisky from the Isle of Arran Distillery. 

Enjoy freshly smoked salmon from Creelers Smokehouse, or indulge in artisan chocolate from the Arran Chocolate Factory. You will be astonished by the quality of the food and drink which Arran produces.
Overnight – Isle of Arran

Take the ferry back to Ardrossan on the mainland today, where your holiday in Ayrshire and Arran will sadly come to an end. From Ardrossan, it is only a short onward journey to Glasgow or Edinburgh.