- Home
- Places to go
- Ayrshire & Arran
Ayrshire & Arran
Ayrshire & Arran sits on the west coast of Scotland. Home to a vibrant island community, charming country towns and sandy shores, discover the region that gave us our National Bard, Robert Burns. Visit attractions connected to the iconic poet, ancient castles and places steeped in Viking heritage.
Things to do in Ayrshire & Arran
Take a walk along the coast, find out more about our National Bard or taste a drop of whisky and see how it's made.
Castles in Ayrshire & Arran
From spectacular stately mansions to historic ruins and edifices, discover castles in Ayrshire & Arran.
Beaches in Ayrshire & Arran
Find beautiful beaches in Ayrshire & Arran.
Attractions in Ayrshire & Arran
Explore a fantastic range of attractions in Ayrshire & Arran.
Low Carbon Days Out
Explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere by public transport with these fantastic visitor guides.
Arran outdoor adventures
Stunning landscapes or adrenaline pumping adventures, there’s something for everyone.
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere
Discover life in the Biosphere!
Inspiration for Ayrshire & Arran breaks
Places to stay
Explore a variety of great accommodation options across Ayrshire & Arran. From cosy cottages, self-catering lodges, luxury hotels, and family-run B&Bs, to back-to-nature campsites, exclusive-use venues, glamping pods and more.
Tours, Routes & Trails
From the gentle Burns' Trail to the sweeping River Ayr Way, discover great driving, cycling and walking routes in Ayrshire & Arran.
Unique experiences
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Explore the biosphere and discover untouched coastlines and deep woodlands and forests, with a rich diversity of plants and wildlife.
Robert Burns
Discover Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns, his colourful life, most famous works, and the ultimate guide to celebrating Burns Night.
Map of Ayrshire & Arran
Explore Ayrshire & Arran
Get friendly and helpful advice for your trip at our iCentres.
Loading
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Javascript is needed to show this map.
How to Travel to Ayrshire & Arran
Getting to Ayrshire & Arran
Driving
You can drive from anywhere in Scotland to Ayrshire. From Glasgow or Edinburgh to Ayrshire the trip takes roughly 1 hour and 2 hours, respectively.
Train
You can also travel to Ayrshire by train from across Scotland. From Edinburgh the trip takes roughly 3 hours 30 minutes or just 1 hour 50 minutes from Glasgow.
Enjoy 2-for-1 tickets with ScotRail when travelling to or from the Girvan and Maybole stations, until 31 January 2025.
Ferry
Once you're in Ayrshire, you can catch the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry across to the Isle of Arran.
Getting around Ayrshire & Arran
Driving
If you choose to drive around Arran, there are three main routes you can follow; one circuitous road around the island, The String (B880) across, and the Ross Road (single track).
Cycling
Arran by bike is incredibly scenic and a great way to experience the island. Bike hire is available in Brodick, with e-bikes available for hire too.
Bus and coach
There are 3 bus routes on the Isle of Arran, the 322, 323, and 324, each covering the north, south and middle areas of the island.
What's On in Ayrshire & Arran
Events
Take a look at some of the latest events and festivals taking place across the region.
Places to eat in Ayrshire & Arran
Food & Drink
Ayrshire & Arran is full of flavour, with fantastic eateries and an abundant natural larder of tasty delights.
What is Ayrshire & Arran known for?
Ayrshire is one of the best golf destinations in the world, including three Open Championship venues. The Isle of Arran is also often referred to as 'Scotland in miniature' with everything that makes Scotland iconic on one easy to explore island.
A tip from your local expert
The iCentre team have all really enjoyed our outings with Mogabout tours, a fabulous way to explore and enjoy the spectacular scenery that Arran has to offer. Alex knows the island so well and has many stories and interesting information to share.
Nines
VisitScotland
Find experiences
JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.
Other things you might like
Edinburgh & The Lothians
Greater Glasgow & The Clyde Valley
Argyll & The Isles
Dumfries & Galloway
Scottish islands & island hopping
12 Peaceful waterfall walks in Scotland
8 Reasons to take a short break in Scotland this March
Join our newsletter clan
Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.