Ayr is a town on west coast of Scotland, it has a lot to offer families and stays in the area are supported by local caravan parks and hotels. Ayr is known for it’s beautiful beaches and fun-filled arcades.
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Getting to Ayr
Most people flying into Scotland don’t consider Ayr as a place to visit, so it is likely that if you are visiting Ayr you are coming from within the UK – probably by car.
This is exactly what we did when visiting Ayr – we drove over from where we live in the Scottish Borders.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of options in Ayr- fitting so many different travel styles and budgets. We recently stayed at the Savoy Park Hotel in Ayr for a wedding and on our next stay was at Sundrum Castle Caravan Park.
The Savoy Park Hotel was literally just minutes from the beach, and Sundrum Castle is actually just outside of Ayr and would take a drive to get to the beach.
Family-Friendly Things To Do In Ayr
Ayr is a real gem to explore with autistic children – there are so many fun and interesting things to do there. I feel like we ran out of time to do everything we wanted to, and we missed out on so many things we really wanted to see because there is just so much to do.
Ayr Beach
Ayr Beach is a beautiful stretch of perfect sand. Alongside it there is a grassy area, offering an opportunity to play and run around. There are also arcades you can play just behind Low Green, the grassy area behind the beach. We did not go and play in the sand or the water due to extreme winds and rain.
Walking Tour
You can enjoy a self-guided historical walking tour of Ayr via get your guide, or simply walk around and explore wherever you end up! This is my favourite thing to do in a new destination.
Pirate Pete’s Playcentre
This play centre has a lot to offer children – including a huge soft play that is open 7 days a week. It is much more than a soft play – offering golf, parties, adventure play and laser quest too. It sits right off of Ayr beach making it an accessible option while you are already in the area. The soft play is over multiple levels, and has areas tailored to different age groups of children – meaning that children of all ages are welcome to come and enjoy Pirate Pete’s soft play.
We found that both Luke and Sylvie wanted to play in the area that is open for all ages, rather than being in the ones for their age group. There were totally fine doing this.
There is also food available at Pirate Pete’s and we enjoyed some delicious ice cream during our visit.
Heads of Ayr Farm Park
Open 7 days a week until November, this family fun farm park has a massive range of different types of animals on show. Not only that, there are multiple transport options for little people to ride including trains, quads, and boats! Luke particularly was drawn to the train and wouldn’t rest until we had tried it out. He loved it.
The farm park is enormous with so much to offer children of all ages and caters to many interests. Our kids particularly enjoyed the trampolines, jumping cushions and soft play equipment.
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle is a must-see attraction near Ayr. It not only boats a huge castle, multiple historical buildings, huge grounds and a lake… but it also has Adventure Cove and Wild Woodland playgrounds with so much for kids to do and play on. Book your tickets via GetYourGuide here.
Rozelle House Museum and Galleries
A museum and gallery to some important and interesting art. The museum is accessible with lift access to reach the second floor. There is also a lovely tea room on the ground floor where you can enjoy a little snack and enjoy the scenery.
Kidz Play – Prestwick
This indoor sea themed playground is fun for all of the family! There is a soft play that is open 7 days a week and you can simply turn up and join in with the fun. It also offers free parking, free wifi, baby changing facilities and aircon.
Dunure Castle
Open 24 hours a day – this castle ruins is an interesting spot to visit, especially if you are looking for something to do out of hours.
Greenan Castle
Another 24 hours a day castle ruins on the coast of Ayr – Greenan Castle is closer to Ayr and there are two ways you can reach it – via the beach or by the nearby car park.
Electric Brae
If your children enjoy optical illusions then this place is an absolute treasure! It is a stretch of road where things appear to be drawn in a direction that completely defies the laws of gravity.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
If your children enjoy history – then this is a fantastic place for them to learn more about Robert Burns in this small museum which hosts manuscripts, books and artefacts relating to Robert Burns.
Getting Around Ayr With Autistic Children
During a visit to Ayr, you can walk a lot of places in the actual town, or you can use buses. To visit nearby towns and attractions you can see what is manageable by bus but it is probably much easier to have a vehicle of your own because some of the places are quite rural.
Tips for a Smooth Experience
- Plan Ahead: Research each location and contact them to discuss any special accommodations your child might need. If you can plan to arrive after check-in time you should, or try to arrange an early check-in.
- Sensory Tools: Bring along sensory tools and comfort items that help manage sensory needs, such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and a sensory toolkit.
- Clear Communication: Ensure that everyone involved in the trip understands the needs and preferences of the neurodiverse individual. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the travel experience. Consider using PECS or an AAC. We have a free pack of travel PECS available for download. Consider using our Scotland PECS to add to your experience.
- Safety: Consider getting an autism card for your child, or even better – use our emergency passport for medical information and important contacts.
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