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GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN AYR
THE BEACH, AYR
The beach at Ayr is pretty awesome. It's got sand and sea and all that kind of thing. The local council tend it with machinery to ensure that the sand is always neatly laid out and clean, and there are notices attached to posts to inform you of exactly how clean the water is with regard to undesirable human things floating in it. But - and there's always a but - people walk their dogs on the beach. I wouldn't wish to be a spoilsport where dogs are concerned. I mean, there can be no doubt that walking or running along a beach, occasionally kicking the sea, can be fun, even for dogs. But dogs do poo now and then, and no matter how good you may be at immediately clearing it up, there's always going to be some left behind. As such, my solution would be a total ban on dogs within a certain demarked area of the beach. I know dogs can't read, so let's also hire a few dog wardens and really make this a top-class attraction..
The beach at Ayr is pretty awesome. It's got sand and sea and all that kind of thing. The local council tend it with machinery to ensure that the sand is always neatly laid out and clean, and there are notices attached to posts to inform you of exactly how clean the water is with regard to undesirable human things floating in it. But - and there's always a but - people walk their dogs on the beach. I wouldn't wish to be a spoilsport where dogs are concerned. I mean, there can be no doubt that walking or running along a beach, occasionally kicking the sea, can be fun, even for dogs. But dogs do poo now and then, and no matter how good you may be at immediately clearing it up, there's always going to be some left behind. As such, my solution would be a total ban on dogs within a certain demarked area of the beach. I know dogs can't read, so let's also hire a few dog wardens and really make this a top-class attraction..
A LITTLE WALK
To exercise those legs and lungs you can stroll along the Esplanade in the direction of Alloway. It's an interesting little walk. As well as bracing sea breezes you have the Lang Scots Mile. A sign for the Lang Scots Mile points out various historic structures near the mile and in the town of Ayr, like the Steven Memorial Fountain or Ayr Pavilion (built in 1911 and now Pirate Pete's Family Entertainment Centre). About two miles along the promenade (one an ordinary wee English mile and one a much longer Scots mile - we're better at everything up here - even miles!) you come to a wooden bridge over the River Doon. You'll see a sign on this side of the river. It reads, 'AYRSHIRE COASTAL PATH - BURNS COTTAGE DETOUR.' This path will lead you to a crossroads then abandon you. If you cross over and continue at the crossroads you should reach Burns Cottage, and Alloway's to your right. Ayr to Alloway this way is around 3 miles. Good Luck.
To exercise those legs and lungs you can stroll along the Esplanade in the direction of Alloway. It's an interesting little walk. As well as bracing sea breezes you have the Lang Scots Mile. A sign for the Lang Scots Mile points out various historic structures near the mile and in the town of Ayr, like the Steven Memorial Fountain or Ayr Pavilion (built in 1911 and now Pirate Pete's Family Entertainment Centre). About two miles along the promenade (one an ordinary wee English mile and one a much longer Scots mile - we're better at everything up here - even miles!) you come to a wooden bridge over the River Doon. You'll see a sign on this side of the river. It reads, 'AYRSHIRE COASTAL PATH - BURNS COTTAGE DETOUR.' This path will lead you to a crossroads then abandon you. If you cross over and continue at the crossroads you should reach Burns Cottage, and Alloway's to your right. Ayr to Alloway this way is around 3 miles. Good Luck.
A BIG WALK - THE AYRSHIRE COASTAL PATH
The Ayrshire Coastal Path passes through, quite logically, Ayr. It is a magnificent long distance path that hugs the coast. You can do it in sections, like that going north some 8 miles or so to Troon. South of Ayr the path starts to leave civilisation behind a little, and you don't have the same concentration of towns that you do north of Ayr. With this in mind, you have to be very very careful. Always have maps for the area that you are walking in, and be aware of sheer cliffs and tides that wait for no man. I would certainly not just head off on the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Ayr without properly planning where you're going and how long it will take you. The town of Girvan, for example, is roughly 20 miles away. Planning is essential. You can check out details of the path at www.ayrshirecoastalpath.org.
The Ayrshire Coastal Path passes through, quite logically, Ayr. It is a magnificent long distance path that hugs the coast. You can do it in sections, like that going north some 8 miles or so to Troon. South of Ayr the path starts to leave civilisation behind a little, and you don't have the same concentration of towns that you do north of Ayr. With this in mind, you have to be very very careful. Always have maps for the area that you are walking in, and be aware of sheer cliffs and tides that wait for no man. I would certainly not just head off on the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Ayr without properly planning where you're going and how long it will take you. The town of Girvan, for example, is roughly 20 miles away. Planning is essential. You can check out details of the path at www.ayrshirecoastalpath.org.
ANOTHER BIG WALK - THE RIVER AYR WAY
Lots of scope for walking in and around Ayr. The River Ayr Way follows the River Ayr all the way from source to sea. It's 44 miles in length, and passes through some delightful places with delightful old inns, like the Stair Inn at Stair (just over 2 miles south of Tarbolton), or the Failford Inn (between Tarbolton and Mauchline). It would be a most pleasant walk indeed to walk from Ayr to either or both of these fine inns and partake of some seriously good food and ale. There is a bus service back to Ayr from, for example, Tarbolton, although bus services are so subject to change these days that it's best to check before you set out. The map you should carry is the Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet 70, 'Ayr, Kilmarnock & surrounding area,' with a scale of 1:50000 or one-and-a-quarter inches to a mile. The River Ayr Way is not marked as such on the above map at the time of adding this guide entry (2011).
Lots of scope for walking in and around Ayr. The River Ayr Way follows the River Ayr all the way from source to sea. It's 44 miles in length, and passes through some delightful places with delightful old inns, like the Stair Inn at Stair (just over 2 miles south of Tarbolton), or the Failford Inn (between Tarbolton and Mauchline). It would be a most pleasant walk indeed to walk from Ayr to either or both of these fine inns and partake of some seriously good food and ale. There is a bus service back to Ayr from, for example, Tarbolton, although bus services are so subject to change these days that it's best to check before you set out. The map you should carry is the Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet 70, 'Ayr, Kilmarnock & surrounding area,' with a scale of 1:50000 or one-and-a-quarter inches to a mile. The River Ayr Way is not marked as such on the above map at the time of adding this guide entry (2011).
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