Ayr, Scotland: Three Interesting Visitor Attractions You Mustn’t Miss
Filed Under Fun Stuff
Ayr is the most populated town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde and, for up until the 17th century, it was a prestigious seaport and trading center, amazingly, for a period, it was almost the same as Glasgow in importance and size to the nation of Scotland. The towns tourist business really started during the 19th century. These days Ayr remains a popular vacation destination due, in part, to the towns association with Robert Burns life but also because of the great many visitor attractions to be discovered in and around Ayr. We have listed below details of three popular tourist attractions to visit; Greenan Castle, The Electric Brae and The Auld Brig.
Greenan Castle
During the 12th century, Roger De Scalebroc built a fortress, which was later the site of Greenan Castle. In 1476, the Lands of Greenan were lost by John, Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, for his treason against James III. The Lands of Greenan were then given to William Douglas, who was the son of Archibald, Earl of Angus, by James IV, in 1493. The rectangular tower house was erected in the early 17th century, by John Kennedy Baltersan, and the original fortess was swallowed up in this construction. Built on the edge of a sheer coastal cliff, Greenan Castle is in a picturesque location, with magnificent views. Not far from the castle is a large stone, where the Picts and the Scots allegedly signed the peace treaty.
The Auld Brig
The Auld Brig is not the only bridge in Ayr, in fact, over the centuries there have been three. The others were the New Brig and the old iron footbridge. Long before the Auld Brig was erected, in 1470, the only way across the river, and into town, was over a timber bridge. In 1788, the New Brig was erected, but tragically was washed away during a flood about 100 years later. Once again the Auld Brig became the primary crossing until another New Bridge could be erected (1878). The majority of people have heard of the Auld Brig thanks to Robert Burns, who wrote the poem, ‘The Brigs of Ayr’.
The Electric Brae
This naturally occurring phenomenon can be found in Ayrshire, Scotland. The Electric Brae is a gravity hill, where a stationary car on the road, with the brakes off, will appear to move steadily uphill. This is purely an optical illusion which is because of the way the landscape lies. There used to be metal markers on the road pointing to the spot, but these have now been substituted with a stone cairn. The stone cairn is also engraved with an explanation of the Electric Brae. Originally people thought the phenomenon was due to an electric or magnetic attraction within the Brae, hence the name.
If you are considering having a vacation in Scotland and you plan to spend a few days in Ayr you may wish to book your accommodation online and you will find listings of hotels and accommodation in Ayr at ayrhotelscotland.com.