Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Ayr - South Ayrshire Is Like Going Back In Time

By Frederick Hoymer

With a population of more than 46000 inhabitants, Ayr is the largest town, port as well as settlement in the Ayrshire. Ayr has held the status of a royal burgh since 1205 and is currently the administration centre for the council area of south Ayrshire. Ayr was among the four Scottish counties competing for the commemorative status of the city upon Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee in the year 2002.

Towns like Prestwick, famous for its golf and aviation as well as Glasgow Prestwick international airport, and Alloway, famous for its association with Robert Burns adjoin Ayr but fail to overshadow it. It was one of four Scottish towns and counties to compete for the title of city in Queen Elizabeth's golden jubilee commemoration in 2002, though the title was won by Stirling.

Ayr is a land of rich history, since the time the first castle was built by the riverside of Ayr; a burgh was soon built by King William I of Scotland in 1205. Ayr held the honors to hold the first parliament in Scotland in 1315. In times past, Ayr was once more commonly called Invenrair/Invenrayr and the name still holds in some Scottish dialects.

Being a riverside town very near to the coast, the county of Ayr enjoys very mildewed weather. The close proximity of the sea ensures that winters in Ayr are mild and summers here are cool. Most of the land in the county is flat and low, though the outlying land to the south a bit more elevated than the all the rest of Ayrshire. Due to the flat terrain, there is close to no chance of fog or mist settling in, even snowfall in Ayr is a rare happening.

The town has three main roads serving to connect it from outside world. It has its own railway station connecting to various cities in Scotland. Just two miles from Ayr is located the Glasgow Prestwick international airport, connecting to various cities across Europe and only 35 miles away lies the Glasgow airport which operates farther international destinations.

Though in the early years, Ayr's parish church was St John the Baptist, Ayr now has many churches for different denominations. It is served by 15 primary schools and five secondary schools, one in Ayr and four in outlying area serve t educate the young of Ayr. Ayr also has two university campuses.

Improvements to the county of Ayr are slow but constant; tourists can enjoy the beach with various facilities including shelters, pleasure cruises, lavatory accommodation, sea wall, sweet meat machines as well as bath machines. For sure Ayr is the most favorite tourism spot in the area save perhaps Glasgow.

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