South of Ayr

The area south of Ayr is relatively quiet but has a number of excellent places to visit and long stretches of sandy beach.  About 7 miles south of Ayr off the A719, lies the tiny village of Dunure and the ruins of the medieval Dunure Castle, formerly the seat of the Kennedys of Carrick.  Keep an eye out for Croy Brae about a mile south on the A719 - this is an Electric Brae (which is when you believe you are driving downhill on the road, you are actually climbing uphill!).   

Shortly after this, is the turning for Culzean Castle, one of Scotland's best stately homes and country park, which offers a varied day out for the whole family.  Built in the 18th century by Robert Adam for the Kennedy family, it was sold to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945 - except for the top floor which was given to President Eisenhower for his lifetime.  The mansion has a magnificent setting on the edge of the cliffs and is open to the public - the oval staircase being one of its best features, although the interior is most sumptuous.  However, most visitors spend the day in the extensive grounds of this country park which include walled gardens, woodland walks, a swan pond, an old ice house, an orangery, an aviary, a deer park, a sandy beach and visitor centre. 

A few miles to the east of Kirkoswald, near the A77, stands the substantial ruins of the 13th century Crossraguel Abbey and its recently restored 16th century gatehouse.

At the junction of the A719 and A77 is Turnberry with its famous golf course and the exclusive Turnberry Hotel, where you can land your private plane!   Girvan lies 5 miles south of Turnberry but has little to offer the tourist apart from its sandy beach and the boat trip to Ailsa Craig, a volcanic rock and bird sanctuary, mainly gannets.  The island's granite was quarried to make curling stones - a popular sport in Scotland.  Trains run from Ayr to Girvan.