AYR

WALLACE TOWER TOWN HALL BURNS SQUARE

AYR

Ayr (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Àir Mouth of the River Ayr) is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde, in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205.

St Johns Tower

From 1870 until 1880 there were noted improvements to Ayr’s beach and tourist venues with organised entertainment, the sea wall, flattening of the Low Green, ice cream huts and pleasure cruises. In 1902 the Attractions Committee added shelters, lavatory accommodation, bathing machines, and permission was granted for boating, ice cream vendors, and automatic sweetmeat vending machines. In 1911 a new Pavilion opened for summer variety shows. All of these contributed to Ayr becoming one of the prime tourist spots outside of Glasgow

Bairdstravel enjoyed a beer in this famous Ayr pub

THE WEST KIRK

Bairdstravel had lunch in the West Kirk December 2009. Really good

Until 1929, the building was the Ayr Free Church (originally Ayr and Wallacetown); from then until its closure in 1981, it was known as Sandgate Church. Built in 1845, the building has its origin in the great Disruption of the Church of Scotland, when almost half of its clergy and laity left to form the Free Church.

How this pub got its name: This former Free Church was built in 1845. Known as the West Kirk, it closed in 1981, but its name lives on in this Wetherspoon pub.

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubs/pub-details.php?PubNumber=804

Ayr has three main roads serving the town:

A79 — main road running through Ayr and linking Ayr with Prestwick and its airport.
A77(M77) — Ayr by-pass stretching from Glasgow to Stranraer. Ayr by-pass was built in 1971.
A70 — running from Ayr to Edinburgh.

Ayr railway station has services to Glasgow Central station with a half-hourly service except on Sundays. There are also regular services to Stranraer, Girvan, Kilmarnock and Newcastle. These services are operated by SPT/First ScotRail.

The town also has air links to European cities from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport located just two miles from Ayr. Ayr is also only 35 miles away from Glasgow Airport which operates further international destinations to Europe, America and the Middle East.

The town also has bus connections spread all of the town and Prestwick. These services are operated by Stagecoach West Scotland. The town has 8 local services. There are express coaches to Glasgow Buchanan Street every 30–60 minutes. Ulsterbus operate bus services to Belfast via Stranraer Ferry service on Stena Line.

Sister outside Horizon hotel . Had a lovely lunch Aug2010

The Abbotsford is a family-run hotel established in 1966 in a residential area 5 minutes walk from Ayr town centre. Management and staff create a warm and informal atmosphere and always ensure your stay is both comfortable and relaxing.

http://www.abbotsfordhotel.co.uk/

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AYR FOR THE FAIR

The very first holiday Bairdstravel ever done was with his mum,dad,and sister June. Here are some of the photo`s from the trip.

We stayed one week at a flat in Dalmelling area of Ayr.

Right next to the racecourse.

The Glasgow Fair is a holiday during the last fortnight in July in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. 'The Fair' is the oldest of a number of similar holidays, dating from the 12th century. The name derives from the actual fair staged on Glasgow Green during the period, full of keeks, menageries, freak shows, waxworks and whisky booths.

Until as recently as the 1960s, most local businesses and factories would close on 'Fair Friday' and workers and their families would crowd railway stations, such as St Enoch's, and the steamer terminals on their way to holiday destinations, often only 20 miles away on the Firth of Clyde.

BURNS COTTAGE

WEST END WALKS OF GLASGOW

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