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• Nearby: Ellesmere Baschurch Wem Oswestry Whitchurch Chirk

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Key roads to be affected by heavy Ayr Show traffic as travel advice given

Traffic Scotland are preparing for a busy weekend on Ayrshire roads

• 15:21, 7 SEP 2023

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Key Ayrshire roads are expected to be impacted with heavy traffic this weekend as thousands flock to the Ayr Show.

Travel chiefs have urged visitors to use public transport (where possible) as they anticipate a surge in motors on major routes surrounding the town.

Traffic Scotland have today warned that traffic will be busy on the A77, A70 and A70, as aviation enthusiasts head for the coast to take in the huge three-day spectacle which includes performances from the iconic Red Arrows.

Organisers South Ayrshire Council have prepared for more than 10,000 vehicles to drive into the town.

Two huge park and rides have been set up with punters being ferried from booked spaces in Belleisle Park and Ayr Racecourse, towards the Low Green - the epicentre of the festival.

Last week council chiefs warned that drivers could face 90-minute delays with roads around the beachfront set to be at a standstill after both main events on the Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile ScotRail confirmed they would be putting on extra carriages to cope with the surge of crowds. Seat numbers will be boosted on services between Ayr and Glasgow throughout the weekend.

The main event will take place on the Saturday, with almost six hours of aircraft booked including the main headliner, the world renowned Red Arrows.

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Travel Advice

Please be advised that mainland Scotland is now on temporary Lockdown. Everyone must stay at home except for essential purposes. Travel to The Coig’s five routes should only be undertaken when it is permitted and safe to do so. Please be sure follow the Scottish government’s guidelines to help us keep our communities safe.

Read on for advice on travelling in Scotland during the Covid-19 epidemic.

Download The Coig’s FREE App

Our completely free app will help you plan ahead for your trip and explore all five touring routes whilst you are here. The Coig app helps you find the most interesting sights and places. The detailed maps and powerful map filters let you easily see what’s near your current location, allowing you to explore with confidence. Our walking, cycling and driving tours have been carefully curated by local experts who know the area best.

Driving in Scotland

If you are planning a road trip in Scotland but you’ve never driven in the UK before, or if you think it’d be a good idea for a quick refresh, please take a moment to watch this video from VisitScotland and have a look at their website which has a list of FAQ’s and lots of useful links.

VisitScotland – Driving in Scotland

Cycling in Scotland

Cycling is a super way to #getoutside and explore The Coig’s five routes, particularly if you are visiting the islands of Arran, Bute or Cumbrae. Safety is paramount therefore following the Highway Code is a good place to start.

Visit the Sustrans website to discover the National Cycle Network in Scotland. We also have some great cycle routes on our interactive map . Click on the ‘Routes’ button then select ‘Cycling’.

Download our FREE app to help you plan.

Coronavirus and travelling in Scotland

We want all of our visitors to enjoy their time in our beautiful region and to support our communities and businesses by shopping locally as safely as possible. 

The First Minister has announced the new tier levels of Covid-19 restrictions. Details of these levels and the implications of each can be found at https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ . Across The Coig’s five routes, there are a number of Local Authority regions, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute. Ensure the region that you are entering isn’t a tier 3 region or above.

Download the contact tracing Test and Protect app from NHS Scotland to help protect yourself and those around you. For more information please visit protect.scot .

#KnowBeforeYouGo

Please plan ahead carefully and check opening arrangements with businesses directly. Please also check the region within The Coig’s five routes you are planning on entering is operating on an acceptable tier for you to do so.

Check with  CalMac   ahead of any plans to travel by ferry to any of our islands. Ferry tickets need to be booked well in advance.

• Maintain physical distancing at all times, indoors and outdoors
• If the number of Covid-19 cases begin to rise again, lockdown restrictions may need to be reintroduced, either locally to nationally.
• Please prepare to be adaptable to changes in your travel plans. Have some thoughts about a back-up or plan B.
• Please self-declare that you are fit to travel and are not showing any symptoms of Covid-19 before you leave home. Please do not travel if you have any symptoms at all.

Stop the spread

By carrying a face mask, hand sanitiser, sanitising wipes, tissues and contactless payment we can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Please practise good hygiene at all times, in all places and respect any restrictions made by our local businesses and attractions to keep you safe.

Please be kind to fellow day trippers, staycationers, shop staff and key workers. We are all trying to adjust to a new way of life.

Keep Updated

Please remember that official advice in Scotland may differ from that of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

All the latest  Scottish Government Coronavirus information is available online at gov.scot .

For the latest tourism updates, please see the  VisitScotland  website.

Travelling by ferry? Please see the CalMac  Ferry updates .

Scottish Outdoor Access Code

Scotland differs to England and Wales in that you can go on most land to enjoy the outdoors. Know the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before you go so you can get on with enjoying yourself once you’re there!

Scottish access rights apply to most land and inland water. Whether you’re enjoying fresh air in a local park, walking the dog, hill walking, mountain biking, horse riding or kayaking, you should find out about your access rights and responsibilities.

Bin Your Litter

We encourage all visitors to The Coig’s 5 routes to keep Scotland beautiful by simply putting any litter in a bin or take it home with you.

Zero Waste Scotland have some top tips on how to prepare for a day trip by ensuring that you don’t leave any litter behind.

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12 Fantastic Things to do in Ayrshire You’ll Love

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 16/02/2024

The Ayrshire region of Scotland sits on the southwest coast and enjoys considerably better weather than most of the country. This is also Robert Burns country – you can’t miss him and his influence when exploring the area.

It is also home to some lovely beaches, fantastic castles , great food, stunning drives and much more.

Here are my top 12 Things to do in Ayrshire Scotland

12 Fantastic Things to do in Ayrshire

1. stay at glenapp castle.

I had always wanted to stay at a Scottish castle. I think it goes back to when Madonna married Guy Ritchie at a Scottish castle. I had images of a brooding and mysterious castle with lots of men in kilts and wild Scottish weather.

If, like me, you have always had a desire to stay in a Scottish castle then look no further. Glenapp Castle is the place to stay. It absolutely is not dark and brooding – quite the opposite – but to me, it offered exactly the type of special castle experience I was seeking.

The grounds of Glenapp Castle are huge. It takes several minutes to drive up the winding path after you go through the gates to get to the actual castle. It covers 36 acres.

Glenapp castle itself is magnificent. The ground floor has several sitting rooms and a bar as well as the main areas for eating. There are seventeen guest rooms and suites.

My room at Glenapp Castle was huge. A giant four-poster bed, a dressing area, a stunning bathroom with a claw foot tub. If you like a castle as much as I do check out this 7 day Scotland Itinerary that focuses on castles and abbeys.

The grounds at Glenapp Castle Scotland are stunning and worth a lengthy walk. From the castle, it is easy to see the lovely pond which is Instagram heaven. Take a walk and wander through the extensive and beautiful grounds.

There are loads of activities on offer at Glenapp from archery to private boat tours. On the water, you can fish, check out birds or find a private beach. Staying on site there is croquet, quotis, french boules, clay pigeon shooting and pretty much everything you might think of.

Glenapp Castle also has a relationship with the lovely Pebbles Spa which is about a 10-minute drive away.

⇒ Read more reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

2. Eat at Glenapp Castle

All the food at Glenapp castle is outstanding. As much of the menu as possible is locally sourced and you can taste the quality of the ingredients.

Their version of the full Scottish Breakfast is outstanding. When it comes to what to do in Ayrshire don’t miss having a Scottish breakfast.

The Castle offers lunch, afternoon tea and dinner for guests and visitors. Lunch is a three-course meal. Afternoon tea can be held either in the castle or on the grounds.

Dinner is a six-course extravaganza. Amazingly it changes every night. Dinner at Glenapp Castle is filled with treats including canapes and palate cleansers and petite fours and many other taste sensations.

The evening I was there I enjoyed an amazing white onion, leek and thyme veloute which was mostly sourced from the grounds of the castle. The local Girvan lamb was also delicious.

Glenapp Castle also has a charming tea shop. If you’re not able to make a full meal you can pop in and visit, have a look at the grounds and get a taste of castle life.

This is one of the loveliest places to go in Ayrshire.

3. Culzean Castle

Culzean Castle is big. The size of the grounds of this castle is quite staggering. It will take several minutes to drive through from the entrance to the parking area.

Once out of the parking area there is a large complex with the Home Farm Restaurant. There are 40 buildings across the Culzean Castle estate.

There are then a couple of paths you can follow to Culzean castle itself. There are castle tours – don’t miss the knife collection.

Culzean Castle is one of the best days out in Ayrshire. There is a lovely little cafe just to the side of the castle with outdoor seating.

A great Instagram opportunity is the little boat launch. There are also several other walks etc throughout the grounds of Culzean Castle.

⇒ Save Time & Stress and book Culzean Castle Now

4. Have a Spa at Trump Turnberry

Such a luxe spa . The chandelier in reception is a bit of a giveaway. The Trump Turnberry Spa offers both Espa and Ishga treatments.

Ishga is actually Scottish Seaweed. Apparently, that is a thing. This is a great place if you are after spa days out Ayrshire.

There is also a lovely 20m pool with indoor and outdoor seating at the spa at Turnberry. Sauna and steam rooms are on offer as is a state of the art gym.

Visitors can often get some great deals on full-day packages at the Turnberry spa. Check on the website .

⇒ Find more fantastic spa options with my post on 9 Brilliant Scottish Spa Breaks

5. Play golf at Trump Turnberry

Scotland home of golf – think of St Andrews. But Trump Turnberry is one of the top 100 golf courses in the world – and its location on the Ayrshire coast is quite spectacular.

The legendary Ailsa course has hosted some of the biggest names in golf over the years.

Trump invested a considerable amount in the course and it is now ranked number one in the UK and Ireland.

6. Visit the Brig o Doon

The Brig O Doon is the most photogenic of the Robert Burns activities – and one of the free things to do in Ayrshire. This iconic bridge is thought to have been built in the 15th century.

It was made famous by its appearance in classic local boy Robert Burn’s poem Tam o’ Shanter. The Brig O Doon now appears on the Scottish five-pound note.

When you walk down to the bridge on the Alloway side of the water you will walk past a lovely pub called the Brig o’ Doon House Hotel. The pub has a lovely garden with amazing trimmed trees that are also worth a look and a photograph.

7. Immerse yourself in Robert Burns

The town of Ayr is all about Robert Burns! Start off by parking in the Robert Burns museum car park. It is a very modern museum and quite interactive and digitally friendly.

The Burns monument and gardens are walking distance nearby. A focus on Robert Burns makes for one of the great days out Ayrshire.

Then across the road is the graveyard where Robert Burn’s father is buried. Robert Burns is buried at St Michael’s Churchyard in Dumfries. The road that this is on has been called the Poet’s Path. This road leading down to Burns Cottage.

⇒ Buy your Robert Burns Museum ticket

8. Walk by the seaside in Troon

Troon is a very cute little town on the seaside and one of the prettiest places to visit in Ayrshire. Have a walk along its long seafront. There is a beach in Troon with some lovely sand.

⇒ Heading to London? Check out my posts on 13 Unusual Experiences in London , the best London Food Tours , my virtual London Travel Blog , some great Earlsfield restaurants , 14 Things to do in Notting Hill , restaurants near Clapham Junction and Victoria Station restaurants , 16 Famous Landmarks in Europe , a mad hatter afternoon tea party and a day trip to Brighton , 67 Fascinating Facts about London , 18 Landmarks of London from a local, 15 Places to see Sunsets in London , 9 Places to watch the Sunrise in London , 10 Bridges in London Not to Miss and Cotswolds tour from London options.

If Troon seaside appeals you may also want to check out the seafront at nearby Prestwick (where the airport is).

A little further north is the town of Largs. It is known for some great cafes, Scott’s restaurant at the marina and some great sunset views – one of the most photogenic things to do in Ayrshire at night.

9. Drive the Coast road A77

When it comes to scenic drives in Scotland most people think of the highlands. However, southwest Scotland has some absolutely stunning roads. The key road is the Southwest 300 . This circular road covers over 300 beautiful miles.

The key section of the route through Ayrshire is the A77 road. This road starts in Glasgow and then runs all the way to Portpatrick on the Irish Sea.

Along the way are Prestwick, Ayr, Girvan and Stranraer and most of the main towns of this area. Once the road hits Givran (if you’ve started in Glasgow ) it follows the sea down to lovely Portpatrick.

10. Visit Dumfries House

Dumfries House is a stunning yet little known stately home in Ayrshire. It was saved by the Prince of Wales himself in 2007 as it features the architecture of Robert Adam and the furniture of Thomas Chippendale.

The estate is open free to visitors and walkers from dawn to dusk. The main gates for cars close at 6 pm.

The only way to see inside the estate is a guided tour. Click here to find out tour options and to make a booking .

Despite the name, Dumfries House is located in Ayrshire, not Dumfries and Galloway.

⇒ If you’re interested in Dumfries and Galloway check out my post on the Top 11 Things to do in Dumfries and Galloway for Grown Ups.

11. Have a Wee Dram

AD Rattray has been making whiskey since 1868. The company is family-owned and still independent. Their focus is single malt whiskey. Their Whisky experience is located in an old village school.

There is no cost and no need to book. Just drop in and the team will take care of you with a tasting and everything you could possibly want to know about Whisky. This is one of the more unusual things to do in Ayrshire.

12. Visit some Islands

There are several Island options in Ayrshire. From Largs, there is a 15-minute ferry that goes to Cumbrae and the small town of Millport. There are beautiful sunset views over Arran island from Cumbrae.

There’s also the one-hour ferry from Ardrossan on the mainland to Brodick on the Isle of Arran. Arran is definitely worth visiting if you get the chance.

It has a castle, a distillery, a brewery, a cheese, a chocolate shop, standing stones, a mountain to climb…. they call it ‘Scotland in miniature’ because of the variety of landscape and flora & fauna all over the island. It’s absolutely beautiful. In the summer a ferry runs from Claonaig on the Kintyre Peninsula to Lochranza in the north of the island.

How to Get To Ayrshire

The closest airports are Glasgow and Prestwick .

⇒ Click here for Flights .

It is also possible to fly into Edinburgh Airport – especially if you are more interested in the eastern side of Dumfries and Galloway. Once you have arrived the easiest way to get around is to hire a car .

I would highly recommend doing this. Not only is it the most convenient option the weather changes frequently in Scotland so it is great to be able to rearrange your day as you need it.

When to Visit Ayrshire

The Ayrshire region has a maritime climate so it never gets extremely hot or cold. July is the warmest month of the year in Ayrshire and January the coldest.

Snow is rare. Rainfall is quite even throughout the year. Ayrshire is a good destination to visit all year round. Summer is peak time. Personally, I think Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit (I visited in May) as there are fewer people but quite long days.

Autumn is also good for colourful leaves. Like the rest of the UK, the weather changes often during the day no matter what time of year you visit.

⇒ Click here to find out the calendar of events in Ayrshire.

Where to Stay in Ayrshire

I loved my stay at Glenapp Castle – as you can tell by its number one position in this post. I also enjoyed two nights at the very decadent Trump Turnberry .

It is so luxe – well worth it for something special. Finally, I heard excellent things about Highgrove House Hotel .

Places to Eat in Ayrshire

In Ayr, check out the Fox & Willow on Carrick Rd which is known for its fantastic cocktail list. The Waterfront on South Harbour has a comfortable patio overlooking the water leading out to the sea, try Ruby 7 Days in the Sandgate if you like Chinese, and if you’re in the mood for a curry try Ayr India .

There are also several lovely pubs to check out in Ayr. The Ayrshire & Galloway friendly and comfortable. They serve Caledonian 80 on tap and are known for their pizza and savory crepes.

The Tam O’Shanter in the High Street is small, but a great spot to wind down for the day or hideout from a spat of rain.

The Twa Dugs in Killoch (just a couple doors from the Ayrshire & Galloway) has a good latte and a range of whiskies plus blues on a Sunday night.

Some other cafes worth visiting are Cafe Monza on the High Street, Nova Coffeehouse & Juicebar in the Lorne Arcade, The Book & Bun on Newmarket Street and Pandora in the Sandgate.

The Bhaile Craft Bakery is in an unusual spot north of the river, in the North Harbour Industrial Estate but has an excellent reputation.

For dessert check out either Renaldo’s & Lori’s Delights for ice cream. They are conveniently located about a minute away from each other so you can review both before deciding on your flavour!

⇒ In the midst of planning your trip to Scotland? Check out my posts on Scotland Itinerary 7 Days and Scotland Itinerary 10 Days.

What to Pack for a Visit to Ayrshire

As the weather does vary quite a bit no matter what time of year you visit Ayrshire, pack layers and bring some waterproofs if you have a more outdoor itinerary planned.

This part of Scotland does not tend to be terribly fancy. However, the high-end hotels in the Ayrshire area (like GlenApp Castle and Trump Turnberry ) do have a bit of a dress for dinner thing going on so good to pack one more dressed up option.

Related Posts:

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Beautiful Places in Scotland

Sunsets in Glasgow

Sunsets in Edinburgh

Who Paid for What in this Post

Thanks very much to Luxury Scotland for helping me to plan and sponsoring my trip to fabulous Scotland. They covered the cost of my stays at GlenApp Castle and Trump Turnberry as well as my car hire.

I paid for my flights and visiting the attractions in this post. As always, my opinions are my own. If you click through on some of the links in this post and make a purchase I will receive a small commission. Just wanted to make sure you knew.

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Sunday 26th of March 2023

Just for clarity Madonna and Guy Ritchie were wed in Dornoch Cathedral, Dornoch.

I love Croatia

Sunday 20th of December 2020

Absolutely stunning! Thank you on a detailed impressive guide!

Suzanne Tam

Monday 17th of December 2018

Aw, this makes me miss home! I haven't been to Ayrshire for a few years, so I really need to go back. I used to do visitor attraction inspections for VIsitScotland, so I was lucky enough to work in the region for a while.

The Boutique Adventurer

Tuesday 18th of December 2018

What a great job Suzanne! I loved the region!

Sunday 5th of August 2018

Just a heads up, Robert Burns is buried in St Michael's Churchyard in Dumfries. His father, William Burnes is buried in the auld kirk at Alloway though!

There's a festival every January called Burnsfest that has actors and performers at different areas (burns cottage, the poets path and the auld kirk) who perform some of burns' work. If you ever find yourself back here in January, it's definitely worth a look.

Thanks Faye! I will update my post now! The festival sounds great! I will definitely attend if I am back in the area in January!

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