Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

• Dumbarton Castle, location of a the centre of a former ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde ( before Scotland was unified in the 9th century AD).
• Port Glasgow, famous for shipbuilding and base of the P.S.Comet, Europe’s first successful steamboat service dating from 1812.
• Newark Castle, also at Port Glasgow.
• Lurg Moor Roman Fortlet, high on the moor above Greenock. Today, large cruise ships call in at Greenock.
• Helensburgh, an upscale residential area where can be found Hill House, by Rennie Mackintosh.
• The holiday destination of Dunoon.
• Inverkip, famous for its sailing boats and marinas.
• Largs, site of a defining 13th centurymarine  battle and now a popular residential location with a marina.
• Isle of Bute
• Interesting geology and raised beaches.
• Great Cumbrae Island
• Portencross Castle
• Ardrossan harbour and ferry port. Also home to a marina.
• Troon, famous for golf  and and as a ferry port.
• Isle of Arran

Firth of Clyde, Greenock and Helnsburgh. Scotland

 

 

Newark Castle, Port Glasgow, Scotland

 

 

Pencil Monument, Largs, Scotland

 

 

Inverkip Marina, Firth of Clyde, Scotland

 

 

Portencross Castle, Firth of Clyde, Scotland

 

Firth of Clyde from Dumbarton Castle, Scotland

This part of Scotland has much to offer the visitor and is a popular holiday destination.

 

 

Beach at Ayr, Scotland

This evening, my focus is on the pleasant and prosperous town of Ayr which lies about 1 hour south of Glasgow.  The town is named after the river of same name which in Gaelic is Inbhir air meaning ‘Ayr mouth’ whilst the root word may mean something like ‘watercourse’. Some of the attractions and sites in and around Ayr include:

• Ayr Racecourse. With a history dating back to the 18th century, Ayr Racecourse is Scotland’s premier horse racing venue and the only one at which all of the country’s top meetings are held.
• The children oriented Heads of Ayr Farm Park.
• The 100 mile Ayrshire Coastal Path which encompasses cliff-top and beach walks plus sea panoramas.
• Golf: Royal Troon and Turnberry are two Championship courses in the vicinity.
• Culzean Castle and Country Park. The 18th century house was designed by Robert Adam and  occupies a stunning location overlooking the Firth of Forth.
• Drumlanrig Castle which is home to the internationally renowned Buccleuch Art Collection.
• Loudon Hill, a popular spot affording beautiful views over Ayrshire to the Firth of Clyde. Popular with walkers, climbers and day trippers.
• Dean Castle country Park. The castle dates from the 14th century.
• Dundonald Castle.
• Robert Burns birthplace and associated sites at Alloway. These include the new Birthplace Museum.
• Dumfries House which contains and exceptional range of original furniture by Thomas Chippendale.
• Sandy beaches
• Good shopping facilities

River Ayr entering Firth of Clyde, Ayr

Robert Burns connected pub.

Tam o Shanter Inn, Ayr, Scotland

High Street, Ayr, Scotland

Carnegie Library, Ayr, Scotland

Overall, Ayr has much to offer the visitor and  could serve as a good base for touring the local area.

• Inveraray Castle, ancestral home of the Chief of Clan Campbell and Duke of Argyll. A very impressive Adam designed masterpiece on the banks of Loch Fyne featuring a wide array of furniture, paintings, armour and weapons.
• Next we tracked Loch Fyne and Loch Long through to Arrochar and afterwards stopped for photos at the famous beauty spot, Rest and be Thankful.
• Then onwards to Loch Lomond and the historic village of Luss where many of the residents excel in elaborate and colourful garden displays. We ventured out onto the short pier for views and photos and then walked over to McKessog’s Church to view a video providing a summary of the historic Christian site which dates back about 1500 years. In the burial ground we viewed a 9th century Viking inspired ‘Hogback’ grave marker and then the 15th century Book of Hours which is on temporary loan from its owner on New Zealand.
• After lunch at Luss we drove on first to Paisley and then to Alloway where is located the birthplace cottage of Scotland’s national poet, Rabbie Burns.  The area in and around the Alloway environs is populated with Burns sites. We had time for the birthplace, Brig O Doon ( which featured in Tam O Shanter) and Auld Kirk wherein is buried Burns’ father.
• Finally, we made our way to Troon and evening meal at the Anchorage Hotel in readiness for our evening ferry crossing to Larne in Northern Ireland. We duly arrived at our Larne lodgings about 11.30pm from where I am writing this post.

Weather today has been reasonably benign; dry but overcast.

Tomorrow we commence our tour of the island of Ireland.