Largest
of the Clyde Coast holiday towns, Ayr lies in the very centre of the famous
Firth of Clyde playground, 32 miles South-West of Glasgow, it looks out on the
glorious panorama of the Firth, with the majestic peaks of Arran in the
foreground and the Mull of Kintyre in the background. Its hinterland is the
beautiful Ayrshire countryside, which provided the inspiration for some of the
finest verses of the National Bard of Scotland.
Undoubtedly Ayr is
an old town—the most zealous of historical researchers cannot say just how
old. its story is writ large on the pages of Scottish history. Many of its
landmarks bear the indelible stamp of its antiquity. But in every other respect
the Auld Toun is the modern home of a modern-minded and thriving community who
are well aware of the need to keep abreast of the times, not only for their own
sakes but for the benefit of the many thousands who come annually to make
holiday.
WORLD-WIDE
fame of Ayr as the centre of the Burns Country makes the town a natural
selection for the tourist’s itinerary, but the ordinary holidaymaker may not
appreciate that it is, in its own right, one of Scotland’s leading holiday
centres. Burns himself may have fostered misunderstanding by his writings. His
boast of
Auld Ayr wham ne’er a toun surpasses
For Honest Men and Bonnie Lasses
certainly has produced a reputation for the lealty of its menfolk and the
loveliness of its women, but, at the same time has made "The Auld
Toun" an alternative name rather than, as intended, an affectionate
description. For more information about current events and the present-day Ayr
go to www.ayr.org
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