British Travel Journal | Summer 2019

Culzean Castle
from Croy Shore,
South Ayrshire.
Picture Credit:
Paul Tomkins
The Cottage Suites
at Machrie Lodge
Lounge
dog owners, designed to be dog friendly, with gourmet
treats, plush dog beds, water bowls and toys available on
request.
There’s a wide choice of unique dining experiences,
including the signature restaurant 1906, which takes its
name from the year Turnberry opened; an elegant Grand
Tea Lounge and Bar, home to the opulent afternoon tea;
and Duel in the Sun restaurant overlooking the legendary
Ailsa golf course.
We opted for 1906, which offers classic dishes with a
modern twist. Here we enjoyed a lovely meal, and as the
sun set, out came our unique Chef’s Table experience
– our Orkney beef steak diane, one of their signature
dishes, being cooked to our preference at our table.
Dessert was another timeless classic, 1906 Crepe
Suzette, flambéed at our table side before being served
with Grand Marnier, orange and vanilla ice cream. Our
waitress was lovely – very warm and chatty, and enjoyed
telling us how lucky she felt to have her job at Trump
Turnberry – a step up from her previous job, she told us,
where she’d been serving fish and chips.
The surrounding area offers even more to explore –
from castles to distilleries, from beaches to the birthplace
of Robert Burns – you could spend several days or more
exploring Ayrshire.
Back on the road we passed the entrance to Culzean
Castle and drove down the ‘Electric Brae’ where your
car appears to be rolling uphill! Onwards the road
approaches Dunure with more jawdropping views of
Arran. A detour of a mile or so from here brings you to
Dunure Village - a pretty harbour and the extensive ruins
of its 13th Century Castle and Dovecote.
Return to the A719 from where it’s a short distance
to Alloway, a suburb of Ayr and famed for being the
birthplace of Robert Burns and the setting for his epic
poem, Tam o’ Shanter. Our final stop – here we visited
Burns Cottage and Burns Birthplace Museum, housing
his life’s work, before heading back on the road for the
airport.
An endlessly fascinating region of Scotland. We loved
the variety of quaint coastal villages, diverse landscapes,
and culturally inspiring attractions in this single stretch of
coastline. It was an extraordinary journey that has given
us an appetite for more. Missing the haggis already, the
more rugged NC500 route is now firmly in our sights. u
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