Main routes in Central Scotland and Northern England with ferry terminals and airports are shown on the map, below.

Airports

You can fly into the heart of South Ayrshire through Prestwick International Airport with regular flights from London and Europe. From Glasgow International Airport, Ayrshire is only 40 minutes drive.

Here are links to the major Scottish airports shown on the map,above:

Ferry operators

Here are some links to ferry operator websites where you can find details of long distance routes and schedules:

RAIL CONNECTIONS

From the south, the main West Coast Line serves Carlisle, Lockerbie and Glasgow with connections to most principal South Ayrshire towns.

From Glasgow and the north, ScotRail operates a frequent service from Glasgow Central Station to Prestwick Ayr and Stranraer. The Caledonian Sleeper service from London (Euston) to Glasgow is a useful altemative. The Sleeper arrives at Glasgow Central around 7am with rapid connections to Ayrshire leaving you fresh to commence a day’s golf.

The National Railways Enquiry Service offers advice on a variety of tickets to reach Scotland from the south and for travelling around Scotland. Cheaper fares (Apex and Super Apex) can be obtained if you book in advance. Sleeper tickets can be booked by credit card through ScotRail Telesales on (Tel: 08457 550033) or via www.scotrail.co.uk

For timetable information and fares contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950

ROAD CONNECTIONS

From the south, the M6 is the main route into Scotland. This joins the A74/M74 at the Scottish border north of Carlisle. From this point, depending on your itinerary, there are a number of options. Take the scenic coastal route on the A75, running from Gretna to Stranraer (110 miles). From Stranraer you can continue north to sample the courses of Ayrshire following the A73, a delightful coastal drive.

Alternatively taking the A75 to the town of Dumfries, the A76 continues north into Ayrshire. Also available is the A71 Galloway Tourist Route connecting through Dumfries west to New Galloway (A75-A712) then north to Troon through the Galloway Forest Park.

From the north and all other areas, the M77/A77 between Glasgow and the south- west ferry port of Stranraer is the principal route into and through the region connecting many of its most famous courses.