| − | '''Ayr''', lying upon the River Ayr, is the former county town of [[Ayrshire]] in [[Scotland]]. The strategic location of the town in the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] estuary, led to the construction of [[castle]]s there by both [[William the Conqueror]] and [[Oliver Cromwell]]. | + | '''Ayr''', situated at the mouth of the [[River ayr]] on the [[Firth of Clyde]], is the former county town of [[Ayrshire]] in [[Scotland]]. The strategic location of the town in the [[River Clyde|Clyde]] estuary, led to the construction of a [[castle]]s there in 1197 and further fortifications were added in the seventeenth century by [[Oliver Cromwell]]. |
| | Historically, Ayr was an important port trading as far afield as Spain and America, but more recently it was the pre-eminent resort town of the Clyde estuary, ahead of [[Ardrossan]], [[Saltcoats]], [[Troon]], [[Largs]] and [[Rothesay]], and it remains a popular destination for excursions to this day,[http://www.ayr.org/Travel/ayr_world_class_holiday_destination.htm] especially to its historic racecourse. Ayr is also the birthplace of Scotland's national poet [[Robert Burns]] and as the centre of Burns country, draws large numbers of tourists annually. | | Historically, Ayr was an important port trading as far afield as Spain and America, but more recently it was the pre-eminent resort town of the Clyde estuary, ahead of [[Ardrossan]], [[Saltcoats]], [[Troon]], [[Largs]] and [[Rothesay]], and it remains a popular destination for excursions to this day,[http://www.ayr.org/Travel/ayr_world_class_holiday_destination.htm] especially to its historic racecourse. Ayr is also the birthplace of Scotland's national poet [[Robert Burns]] and as the centre of Burns country, draws large numbers of tourists annually. |