Ayr Scotland

Ayr has a compact industrial harbour, with tenders landing on the river's north bank close to the town centre.

The coast around Ayr contains numerous attractive places. Clear weather opens views towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig, while the Heads of Ayr to the south provide a panorama over the whole town and nearby countryside.

Several ruined castles and forts stand in the area, and much of the substantial wall built around Ayr by Oliver Cromwell survives.

Ayr hosts the Scottish Grand National each year, the principal reason cruise vessels call. For a golf tournament, travel by bus or train to the Prestwick Airport stop; this is near the lower end of the course and an entrance into The Open beside the Postage Stamp hole.

The Sandgate tourist office is roughly a 15 minute walk from the harbour.

Traveline provides information for both local and long-distance journeys.

Walking through the main shopping street to the railway station takes 25 minutes and covers 1 mile.

Alloway, an Ayr suburb and the birthplace of poet Robert Burns, offers an alternative day out. His birthplace is now a museum, and local buses travel there.

Ayr has two shopping centres: the Kyle Centre and the newer Ayr Central. A high street with many more shops complements them.

Across the UK, sterling is used, with the pound (£) also commonly called a quid. Scottish banknotes may be unwelcome elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.

Cash machines, or ATMs and informally 'holes in the wall', are extremely common and generally issue £10 and £20 notes.

Most restaurants and shops take Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.

English is spoken nationwide, sometimes with a strong accent.

Free Wi-Fi is provided by most cafés and restaurants.

For local emergencies call 999; the EU-wide 112 number also works.

General shopping times are as follows:

Small shops trade 6 or 7 days weekly, usually 10am - 6pm. Larger stores generally remain open until 9PM, while hypermarkets often operate 24/7.