Cottages in Ayrshire

Situated on the west coast of Scotland, Ayrshire enjoys an excellent climate, wonderful islands, stunning starry night skies and charming villages that offer cosy cottages on the sandy shores where the Vikings set foot years ago. In Ayrshire, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, great attractions, festivals, castles, as well as some of the best golfing in Scotland.

In your accommodation, enjoy a lemonade on the terrace, take in the ocean views and relax in the hot tubs and saunas. Ayrshire's cottages offer fabulous features that will make your holiday a memorable one. With extravagant bathrooms, modern kitchens, high-quality televisions and comfortable furnishings, we guarantee that on rainy days or lazy days, you'll have a great time in your cottage.

Considered one of Scotland's most impressive stately homes, Culzean Castle & Country Park is one of the best places for a romantic getaway. The mansion is perched on an Ayrshire clifftop and boasts a recreation of a Victorian vineyard, as well as a deer park. Here you can enjoy elegant classical castle decorations and a charming café with outdoor seating. It's a truly magical place with sea views, swan ponds and secret picnic spots in the trees. Although if you prefer a haven of peace, a day at the multi-award winning Westfield spa is a great idea for both of you to relax. You can enjoy a wide range of beauty and holistic treatments. This is one of Ayrshire's best kept secrets.

Tree Top Trials is geared towards families and provides an adrenaline-fuelled day out like no other. Children and teenagers can enjoy obstacles at different heights in beautiful scenery on the Craufurdland Estate near Kilmarnock. Obstacles include zip wires, canvas slides and free falls of up to 14 metres. On the other hand, Heads of Ayr Farm Park also provides a great family day out. With lots of exciting activities, the family can enjoy bumper boats, trampolines, electric tractors and many farm animals including rabbits, ponies, donkeys, guinea pigs and other animals such as camels, monkeys, lemurs, and meerkats. The park also has a restaurant and a café with a wide selection of ice creams, coffees, and teas.

Dumfries House Estate in Cumnock is one of Scotland's most impressive stately homes and boasts 2,000 acres of grounds offering stunning gardens, woodland walks and attractions for children. Walk over the Chinese bridge, through the 'Temple' gate, discover the five-acre walled garden, lose yourself in the two-metre high labyrinth and reach the Japanese pagoda at its centre. This house is one of the best kept heritage secrets.

Located in the world-famous Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is a magical place that allows you to see beyond your sight. You can view the universe through two large telescopes and enjoy the darkest night skies in the UK and Europe. Learn astronomy, attend stargazing nights and observe galaxies, nebulas and more. The park has been awarded “Gold Level” status by the International Dark Sky Association.

Head to the charming town of Largs and attend the Viking Festival. This annual festival commemorates the last mainland battle between the Scots and the Norse. Each year, the town of Larg brings history back to life for the public to experience life in a 13th century Viking settlement. Join the festival, celebrate Viking culture for a week and live like these ancient raiders. After the celebration, don't miss Nardini's for an ice cream. This is one of Scotland's best ice cream parlours and a must-visit in Largs too.

From Largs, take a 10-minute ferry to the island of Cumbrae. Often referred to as the 'Isle of a Thousand Bikes', Cumbrae is considered Scotland's most accessible island. Cycle the 10 miles (16.09 km) around the island, see the town of Millport, visit Britain's smallest cathedral and take a photo next to the distinctive Crocodile Rock. The island is also a mecca for water sports, so you can enjoy kayaking, windsurfing, and canoeing.

Explore the mysterious Neolithic stone circles, tour the castles and delve into the King's Cave. The Isle of Arran has hundreds of amazing things to do, however it has become most famous for its distillery. For over 150 years, Lochranza distillery has been the most popular spot for its malt whisky known as Arran Water. If you are a whisky lover, you shouldn't miss out on sampling the variety of whiskies from Arran's first distillery! You can also enjoy a tasting that combines whisky with handmade chocolates, that will give a sweeter touch.

Overlooking the Isle of Arran, the seaside town of Troon is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Ayrshire. Troon is a suitable location if you want to enjoy a day at the beach or a seaside holiday. However, the town is most popular for its Royal Troon Golf Course. You can enjoy seven amazing courses overlooking the sea, restaurants, boutiques, cafés, as well as water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing and others.

The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in the village of Alloway will give you an insight into the life of this much-loved poet and lyricist. Take a stroll through the iconic museum and follow the Poet's Path which will take you to Burns Birthplace Cottage where this poetic genius was born and bred. Here you can read some of the more obscure Scottish translated verses and see his possessions. If you are a lover of Scottish literature, this place will fascinate you.