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Reviews and photographs plus suggestions for places to visit.
SOUTH AYRSHIRE, SPORT & THE BURNS CONNECTION

South Ayrshire is great for days out, or an ideal base for family holidays.

The county town of Ayr's busy shopping area, bars and cafes, plus long
stretches of sandy beach, superb sports and recreational facilities and
entertainment have made it one of Britain's favourite coastal resorts.

Troon is also a popular holiday resort with its soft sandy award-winning
beach overlooking the Isle of Arran. The town's esplanade offers various
facilities for families including crazy golf and putting.

A little further south, Girvan has a good reputation for floral attractions
and colourful displays which are situated in many parts of the town's
Rose Gardens, Knockcushan Gardens and Orchard Gardens.
The town is also a good base for exploring  the Carrick Forest and the
many picturesque villages of the surrounding area.

South Ayrshire boasts excellent sporting opportunities. Golf is a major
attraction in the area, particularly around Troon, which has six courses
including the famous Royal Troon, a frequent host to the UKs Open
Championship.

Ayr Racecourse is Scotland's top horse-racing centre and offers more
racing days than any other Scottish course. Given its coastal location,
there are also plenty of opportunities to take to the water for fun.

Troon's bustling harbour is a magnet for anglers, sightseers and
yachting enthusiasts who can enjoy the first-class facilities of the
Troon Yacht Haven, one of the Clyde's leading sailing centres.

Sea-angling trips operate from Ayr as does the world's last sea-going
paddle steamer PS Waverley which takes cruisers on trips down the
Firth of Clyde during the summer.

The area also has important connections with Scotland's National Bard,
Robert Burns, who was born in Alloway, close to Ayr. In nearby villages,
various locations associated with the poet include the Burns National
Heritage Park, the poet's birthplace of Burns Cottage, Brig o'Doon and
the spooky Alloway Kirk.

Ayrshire's jewel in the crown, Culzean Castle is located near Maybole
and is reached via a costal road, a short part of which - known locally
as The Electric Brae - forms an optical illusion where a car left in neutral
with its brakes off, will appear to roll uphill.

South Ayrshire certainly offers a lot to see and do.
The Brig O'Doon at Alloway is central to Burns'
famous poem "Tam O'Shanter"
An evening view from Turnberry Golf Course showing Turnberry Lighthouse and Ailsa Craig in the distance.
AROUND AND ABOUT OBAN

Oban is the capital of North Argyll. It is a busy ferry and railway terminal and a popular tourist destination. It has a wide range of shops and supermarkets, banks etc, many excellent places to eat out, a cinema and Post Office. It is the ideal centre for exploring the beautiful scenery of North Argyll or to stop overnight if you are on your way to the islands.

Ferries leave Oban for Islay, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Lismore, Barra and South Uist. Oban is also a busy fishing port, and a variety of ships can usually be found tied up to the town's two piers.

Oban is full of things to do and see. Make sure you visit McCaig's Tower, the replica of the Colosseum that is such a distinctive feature on the Oban skyline. The view across Oban Bay to Kerrera and Mull is unparallelled. Boat trips to Mull or to see the wildlife are available, and many superb day excursions by coach or ferry can be arranged. Visit the local tourist office for dates and times on arrival - you'll find it in an old church just around the corner from the railway station by the pier.

The Oban Distillery Visitor Centre, located near
the North Pier is open Monday to Friday all year
round (Saturdays too from Easter to October) for
guided tours. There's an audio visual exhibition
and gift shop. The Oban War & Peace Museum
on the North Pier is also worth a visit.