South and west of Glasgow,
Ayrshire has an attractive
coastline and a number of seaside resorts including Prestwick
and Troon, site of yet another world-class golf course.
Irvine offers the Scottish Maritime Museum, and nearby Dundonald
Castle was childhood home of William Wallace. Vikingar,
a multimedia visitor centre at Largs, highlights Viking influences
on the region, while Alloway, birthplace of Robert Burns,
features a number of attractions dedicated to the poet. Off the
Ayrshire coast lies Arran, an extremely popular holiday island.
Dumfries & Galloway
This region consists of open, rolling countryside, lakes and pine
forests. Towns like Dumfries, home of Robert Burns; Kirkcudbright,
a former artist’s colony; and Gatehouse of Fleet are all popular
centres.
Country houses, castles, gardens and special interest museums are
common in the area. To the far southwest, Stranraer is the
ferry port for Belfast, and the main town on the sub-tropical Rhinns
of Galloway Peninsula. For further information contact the Tourist
Board.
The Borders
The Borders
area was the scene of many Anglo-Scottish battles down the centuries.
It is a region of lush green hills and moorland. The area’s
wealth allowed construction of several outstanding ecclesiastical
buildings, notably the abbeys at Dryburgh, Jedburgh and Melrose.
The border towns of Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk
are still centres of the wool, tweed and knitwear industry. Abbotsford
was home to Sir Walter Scott. |
