Culzean is one of Scotland's best loved Castles, offering something for everyone to enjoy. Situated on the South Ayrshire coast, just off the A719, Culzean Castle is located 12 miles south of Ayr and 4 miles west of Maybole. For opening hours, admission prices and directions to reach the Castle please see www.culzeanexperience.org Culzean has a long tradition of welcoming local people, members of The National Trust for Scotland and holiday makers from all around the world. During the Summer Season, the Castle, gardens, Visitor Centre, shops and restaurants are open daily from 1 April to 1 November 2010 (inclusive) each year.
TAM O SHANTER Tam o' Shanter is a wonderful, epic poem in which Burns paints a vivid picture of the drinking classes in the old Scotch town of Ayr in the late 18th century. It is populated by several unforgettable characters including of course Tam himself, his bosom pal, Souter (Cobbler) Johnnie and his own long suffering wife Kate, "Gathering her brows like gathering storm, nursing her wrath to keep it warm". We are also introduced to Kirkton Jean, the ghostly, "winsome wench", Cutty Sark and let's not forget his gallant horse, Maggie.
The tale includes humour, pathos, horror, social comment and in my opinion some of the most beautiful lines that Burns ever penned. For example, "But pleasures are like poppies spread, You sieze the flower, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white--then melts for ever".
Enjoy "Tam o' Shanter - a Tale"
ROYAL TROON GOLF CLUB
Founded in 1878 by a few enthusiasts Royal Troon Golf Club has outgrown its purely local reputation and is now known as one of the finest championship courses in the world.
The Old Course today presents a stern golfing examination and in particular the inward half of Royal Troon is widely accepted as the most demanding of any Course on the Championship rota.
AILSA CRAIG
Ailsa Craig (Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island in the outer Firth of Clyde, Scotland where granite was quarried to make curling stones. "Ailsa" is pronounced "ale-sa", with the first syllable stressed. The now uninhabited island is formed from the volcanic plug of an extinct volcano.
The island was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.
