Accommodation in Ayr with a Hot Tub

Where's the best accommodation Ayr offers for a hot tub break?

Start with how many of you are going, because the cottages in Ayr and the villages nearby stretch from a place for two right up to a house for a very large group. The sleeps and bedrooms filters will narrow things down in a couple of taps. Plenty of the homes sleep four to eight, which suits a family weekend or two couples sharing.

Hotels in Ayr are easy to find. A kitchen and a hot tub where you're staying are harder.

Self catering in Ayr changes the rhythm of a trip. You can have a slow breakfast, spend a few hours by the sea, then come back for a soak while dinner's in the oven. A hotel room puts you nearer the town centre, but you won't get a kitchen, a living room or a tub waiting at the end of the day.

If a dog's coming too, switch on the dogs filter first, since only some of the homes take them. Our guide to dog friendly accommodation in Ayr goes into more detail. The cards show what each stay sleeps and how far it is from the centre of Ayr.

1. Set the sleeps and bedrooms filters for your group.
2. Switch on dogs if a pet is coming.
3. Compare the miles from Ayr centre on each card.
4. Choose the area that fits your days.

Which part of Ayr should you stay in?

Access to the town centre is the first thing to check, because none of these homes is right in the middle of Ayr. That's worth knowing before booking. The nearest home is 1.7 miles from the centre of Ayr, so you'll drive or take a taxi when you fancy dinner out. In return you get more space than a town centre hotel room and a calmer place to come back to.

Ayr and Kirklandholm: closest to town

The stays here sit between 1.7 and 3.4 miles from the centre of Ayr, on the edge of town rather than in the middle of it. That makes them the handiest for restaurants and the racecourse, which are a short hop away. Each one is listed as near a beach, though you'll still want the car to get there.

Dalrymple and Monkton: either side of town

Dalrymple has a farm address and a home listed as near a pub, which is handy when nobody wants to drive after a long day. Monkton is on the Prestwick side of Ayr, so it's the better pick if you're flying in or out. Dalrymple is the inland choice, so the sea is a drive away. The Monkton home is listed as near a beach and Prestwick's sands are a short run from it.

Dunure: the coast with room for a crowd

A short way down the coast, Dunure has the bigger houses, with space for eight guests in one and twelve in another. Both are listed as near a beach and the ruins of Dunure Castle stand by the village harbour, so a coastal walk is easy to fit in. After dark you'll want a plan for dinner, because the town's restaurants are a run back.

Maybole and Tarbolton: the quiet ends

Maybole sits on the Culzean side of Ayr. The home there is a romantic base for two. If you're booking a big family reunion, look at the group house near Tarbolton, which sleeps up to 26 guests. It's inland and 6.7 miles from the centre of Ayr, so the beach is a car ride away.

What's near your holiday home in Ayr?

These drive times start from the centre of Ayr. Add the miles from your own stay, which are on each card.

• Ayr beach: 3 minutes, 0.9 miles
• Ayr Racecourse: 4 minutes, 1.5 miles
• Alloway and the Burns Birthplace Museum: 6 minutes, 2.3 miles
• Dunure Castle: 13 minutes, 6.6 miles
• Prestwick Airport: 14 minutes, 5.2 miles
• Troon: 17 minutes, 10 miles
• Culzean Castle: 27 minutes, 13.1 miles
• Glasgow city centre: 49 minutes, 36 miles

Burns country in Alloway

Start with Alloway, an easy attraction to reach from the Ayr stays. The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is run by the National Trust for Scotland and the Poet's Path links it to Burns Cottage, where the poet was born. You can fit it into a morning and still be back for a late lunch.

Racing at Ayr Racecourse

Horse racing is the other big name in town and the Scottish Grand National is run at Ayr Racecourse in April. The racecourse lists its other fixtures through the year.

Culzean and the coastal drive

Culzean is a bigger day out. The National Trust for Scotland looks after the castle and country park, with woodland walks and clifftop views to fill the day. If that's your main reason for coming, see our page on accommodation near Culzean Castle.

Golf, Troon and Prestwick

Golfers can drive up the coast to Troon, a 17 minute run from the centre of Ayr, to play the links courses by the sea. Royal Troon is the famous name there. Our page on accommodation in Troon covers that end of the coast. The Prestwick page helps if Prestwick Airport matters most. The main ferry to the Isle of Arran sails from Ardrossan, though some sailings have used Troon, so check CalMac first and see our Saltcoats and Ardrossan page for stays near the port.

What can you explore from your stay on the Ayr coast?

Ayr seafront runs along a long sandy beach, with an esplanade that makes a scenic seaside stroll for your first evening. Further down the coast, the shore around Dunure is ideal for a quieter walk.

The esplanade is a popular walk and you'll enjoy it in any season, whether the sky is clear or grey. Pack a coat for the wind and you're set.

Golf is the other big draw. The links courses around Troon and Prestwick are well known, so the golf courses are a great reason to come. The Monkton home is close to Prestwick. After a round of golf, there's a tub waiting.

Sort the cards by price to match your budget. A few homes are billed as luxury. Pet friendly homes show a dogs label on the card, so you can find them quickly.

Plan on a car for most days.

If you'd rather not drive, trains from Ayr station run up the coast through Prestwick and Troon to Glasgow. Check local transport before you arrive, because the stays are all outside the town centre.

The beaches

Ayr beach is the nearest, with more along the coast. Some South Ayrshire beaches ask owners to keep dogs on a lead in summer. Check South Ayrshire Council or the signs on the sand before you go.

How does a hot tub stay compare with a hotel in Ayr?

Hotels near Ayr Racecourse and the seafront win on walking distance. You can step out of the door and be in the centre in minutes.

A self catering home wins on everything that happens afterwards. There's room to spread out and a kitchen for breakfast, then a tub for the evening. The price a night on each card is for the whole home, so groups can split one booking instead of paying for several rooms. Wifi and gardens vary from home to home, so tick the extras filter for what you need.

Families get plenty from this kind of stay. Everyone has room and meals happen when the kids are hungry. Ayr beach is a short drive away for the daytime.

Think about your days

Think about how you'll spend your days. If you'll be out from morning to night, a hotel room is enough. If you want to linger, a holiday home in Ayr suits you far better.

Hotel, guest house or holiday home: which suits you?

Hotels in Ayr, guest houses and bed and breakfast rooms share one great strength, which is location. They're in town, so dining out and a stroll to the seafront are easy.

Holiday lets in Ayr trade that for facilities and amenities. Think a full kitchen and bedrooms for the whole group, with a hot tub on top.

Compare the price per night on the cards with the rooms you'd need elsewhere, then pick the choice that fits your trip. Hotels in Ayr suit a one night stop. A holiday home suits a family friendly weekend or a celebration, where the experience is part of the point.

Good to know before you go

The homes are located across the Ayr area, within a short drive of local shops and dining, plus Ayr beach and Ayr Racecourse. Some are further out than others, so guests should check the distance on each card.

Read each stay page to find the details that matter to you, including parking and any garden or view. The cards show a from price a night and what each home sleeps.

Explore the country park at Culzean or play golf at Troon, then come back for dinner and a soak. A hotel in Ayr or a guest house near the airport only does part of that. For family trips and groups, a home with room to spread out is a popular choice.

When is the best time to visit Ayr?

April brings the big jump racing meeting. That suits anyone who wants the racecourse crowds. Summer is the time for days on Ayr beach and long evenings. Autumn and winter are quieter in Ayr. A hot tub earns its keep when the air turns cold.

Burns Night falls on 25 January, so winter can be a good time to visit Alloway if you like your poetry with a dram. Check the National Trust for Scotland site for what's on.

What should you book ahead?

Here's what is worth sorting before you go.

• A table for your first night, especially if you're arriving late on a weekend
• Culzean and the Burns museum, on the National Trust for Scotland pages if you want a set time
• Tickets for racing, on the racecourse site
• Parking for your stay, so check the stay page

For the stay itself, check your dates on the stay page, because the from price on the card is only a starting point. Dog owners should confirm pet details on the stay page before booking.

Driving back from dinner in Ayr? Check the route in daylight first, because the villages around the town have narrower roads than the A77.

Ready to book your hot tub break?

Of all the accommodation Ayr can offer, these stays add a tub and keep the beach and Burns country within easy reach. When you're ready, browse the full range of cottages with hot tubs in Ayrshire, or read our hot tub breaks in Ayrshire guide to compare other areas. Wherever you land, the tub's ready when you are.

Questions groups ask