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