Under Scottish law, couples from anywhere in the world can get married in Scotland without having to be residents. And if you’re ever down in Ayrshire- Scotland’s very own Elysium- with your significant other, you will appreciate just how befitting it is. Bask in the green-gold splendour of a land so beautiful that it’s easy to believe it, even now, to be the home of faeries. Rediscover the meaning of romance and dreams within the centuries-old walls of its hauntingly beautiful manors and castles. And fall in love all over again.

In a land as beautifully unreal as a tapestry woven on the loom of dreams, no affianced couple would wish to wait till an uncertain future to exchange rings and lives. Consider the Kelburn Castle of Fairlie. Set in a panorama of lush woodlands and rolling glens, Kelburn is a wonderland of cascading waterfalls, exquisite pleasure gardens and even its very own pagoda, all guarded by the watchful eyes of a lordly castle. The marriage is conducted in the majestic splendour of its eighteenth century drawing room, or the sheltered intimacy of its private gardens, the ‘Plaisance’. The wedding party is given access to all of the grounds for the day, and a more magical backdrop to the magical event could not be asked for.

Or take the Glenapp Castle Hotel of Ballantrae. The battlemented walls and pennants take you back to a day and age when chivalry was yet alive, when every lover was a knight and his lady a princess. Added to this antique charm are all the luxuries that only a five star Relais & Châteaux hotel of the 21st century can provide- the best, in other words, of both worlds. Glenapp Castle hosts weddings on an exclusive basis, giving the wedding party of up to thirty-four guests exclusive occupancy of the castle and grounds. From there, all that awaits you is a vision of perfection… from the thirty-six acres of immaculate gardens to the Irish Sea and Island of Arran, and the magical Fairy Rock-the Ailsa Craig. A place as far removed from the noisome cares of everyday life as the middle heavens from the lower earth. A place to make one feel that their marriage was, truly, sanctified beyond the earthy confines of the common world.

Ayrshire offers you more than just beauty on your wedding day. It offers to make the day timeless and unforgettable, in the way it should be, in the way that everyone in this world wishes it ought to be. So come to Ayrshire and know it for yourself. And experience that magical moment of eternity that lives on long, long after it has ceased to be. Image source: Flickr

The Wickerman Festival takes place for the eighth successive year near Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway. The festival has proven popular with Ayrshire music lovers, being close to home and promoting Ayrshire talent into the bargain over the previous years.

The Liverpool based band the Zutons and 80s band the human league.

Headliners this year will be Liverpool band The Zutons and 80s band The Human League. Unlike the bigger commercial festivals it has a more family orientated feel with kids welcomed and catered for. It also runs throughout the night only stopping for a few hours to clear up and start again. There is music from an array of genres for the most discerning of music fans; reggae, rock, indie, ska, punk, electronic and several styles of dance with house legend Danny Rampling even giving classes to the wannabe DJs among the campers.

There’s also spoken word, poetry, comedy and even a retro outdoor cinema – where yes, you can watch the original Wickerman movie starring Edward Woodward.

Ayr-based ska band The Hostiles will grace the stage in the scooter tent where Bad Manners will headline on Saturday.

At midnight on Saturday there’s a feast of pyrotechnics and a giant Wickerman effigy is set ablaze to the sound of the bagpipes. The Wickerman Festival takes place this weekend on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, check out www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk for more info. Weekend tickets cost £80 including camping and parking and kids under 14 go free if accompanied by an adult.

There is so much to do in and around Ayr, it is difficult to decide what to do and when. Given that the area is steeped in history, activites that take a step back in time are high on the list of “to-dos”.

Ailsa Craig

Sitting 10 miles offshore and easily seen from Girvan, a huge granite monolith is a haven for a multitude of birds. Prominently positioned on Ailsa Craig sits the ruins of a medieval tower. The rock, known by its Gaelic name is Ailsa Craig, or “Fairyland Rock” is renowned for its high quality granite. “Ailsite” is the name of the granite and is used for many things including curling stones.

Bargany Garden

Just 19 miles from Ayr on the Bargany estate are the beautiful Bargany Gardens. Although there is little left of them, the Bargany estate also contains the ruins of three castles dating back to the Kennedy’s. The current owners of Bargany are believed to be descended from the Kennedy’s.

Privately owned, these gardens are opened to the public for a few weeks in May each year. For a small fee, visitors can wander the scenic woodland walkways, take in the kitchen and rock gardens, enjoy the ecosystems of the pond, and drink in the beauty of the gorgeous displays of narcissi, azaleas, and rhododendron. Visiting these gardens is a very restful way to pass an afternoon.

Ayrshire Arts Festival and Robert Burns Festival

Early June brings 2 annual festivals that run at the same time for an entertaining 10 days. The Ayrshire Arts Festival and Robert Burns Festival promote both local performers and internationally known performers from around the globe. From theatrical performances through ballet and operas to poetry readings, folk nights and jazz sessions; there is more than enough entertainment to keep everyone occupied.

Dean Castle Country Park

A few miles north of Ayr, at Kilmarnock, is the magnificent Dean Castle Country Park is well worth visiting. The14th to 15th century castle was once the Boyd family home. Dean Castle houses an incredible display of early musical instruments from Europe, Burns manuscripts and medieval weapons, as well as other interesting items.

Scottish Maritime Museum

The Scottish Maritime Museum has three sites. There is a site located at Irvine, Bumbarton, and Braehead. Each site has a number of vessels on display including tugs, trawlers, and lifeboats. At Irvine you will find the Linthouse engine shop with its displays of model ships. Not only do you view the exhibit but also you can build a model boat and then test it. At Dumbarton, you get to step into the world of shipbuilders. Braehead introduces you to Clyde shipbuilders as well as puts you on the virtual helm of the MV Clan Alpine.

Not only do you learn but the interactive activities truly turn back the clock!

Scotland’s golf courses are some of the best in the world. Perhaps this is because the game of golf is credited as starting in Scotland and Scottish pride demands excellent courses for “their” game. A stone’s throw from Ayr lays Preswick, Scotland. This small town is home to an international airport and three excellent golf courses including the world-renowned Preswick Golf Club, home of the British Open. There are several golf courses within the area and these courses make Prestwick and Ayr an alluring destination to visitors. The Ayr/Prestwick area is a golfer’s paradise!

Founded in 1851, Prestwick Golf Club hosted the first Open in 1860. At the course’s inception, Tom Morris was brought in to be the Keeper of the Green, Ball and Club Maker. His son, young Tommy, grew up on the links and honed his skill at the game of golf. In later years, young Tommy went on to win an as yet unmatched 4 Opens. This course will challenge and delight you. The Pow River creates a natural obstacle as it flows through the course. The famous third hole (par 5) abruptly ends 300 yards from the tee at a deep bunker, “the Cardinal”. This hole has dashed many a golfer’s goal of winning their round.

Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club, founded in the latter part of 1951, boasts 18-holes that requires the golfer to think out their strategy. A beautiful course, it has some unique landmarks incorporated into it. The Salt Pan buildings date from 1790 and were used for the extraction of salt from the sea. The water-filled quarry just 50 meters from the sea provides the water used to irrigate the course. The quarry is filled with fresh water in spite of its proximity to the sea and provides sanctuary to a wide array of wild water birds.

Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club welcomes visitors with warmth that is not apparent at many courses. Visitors are greeted and shown around the facility by the Starter. He makes sure that they have what they need before they start their round. Be warned, there is no pro shop at Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club so come prepared. There are also a very limited number of carts for rent. The yellow course that the visitor’s play golf on is a par 68 and demands a great deal of attention if one wants to conquer the course.

Just down the road and sharing a border with the Prestwick Golf Club, Royal Troon offers three courses to the avid golfer. If you are looking for a challenge, the Old Course’s 18 holes is the right course for you. The wind and deep rough make accuracy a necessity. With five Par 3’s, the Portland Course is a bit more sheltered but its 18 holes are still quite challenging. The 9-hole Craigend Course has Par 3 holes and is used mostly by junior players because it is a kinder and gentler course. Royal Troon has very limited tee times for visitors so plan in advance and contact them to make sure that your vacation wishes can be accommodated. You will also want a list of the do’s and don’ts when visiting Royal Troon.

This is a small sampling of the courses that you can look forward to when you spend your golfing vacation in the area. Remember to make sure to contact each course well in advance to make sure that you can be accommodated and get all the pertinent visitor information. Taking a golf vacation in this area is definitely not a spur of the moment type of vacation. Your days can be filled enjoying the many gorgeous and well laid out courses that are minutes apart from each other. It will make you wish that you could enjoy the links every day all day.

Ayr Racecourse bills itself as being the premier racecourse in Scotland. It is a very impressive racecourse with great horse races, jumping events, and outstanding facilities. Affordable entertainment at affordable pricing in a terrific facility makes a visit to Ayr Racecourse a must in every visitor’s itinerary.

In 2009, 27 events are on the schedule for Ayr Racecourse. The racecourse offers a broad selection of tickets, including memberships, which will suit everyone’s pocketbook. From the £5 Value Day to the £260 Club Season Ticket, and everything in between, offers good value for the money. Many of the prices have been held at the 2008 level. There is always a good reason to attend the races.

Different levels of memberships and tickets at the Ayr Racecourse allow you to enjoy different privileges. When making your decision to buy a ticket or a membership, you’ll want to review the racecourse’s facility to make sure that you are getting the amenities that will give you the enjoyment the you want. There are several lounges and bars that allow you to so everything from have a casual bite to eat with friends at The Bistro Cafe and Coffee Shop, absorb the atmosphere in the Summer Club Bar, be entertained in the recently opened state-of-the-art Grandstand Sports Bar or just absorb the excitement of race day in the many other facilities at the racecourse. Among the several eateries available at Ayr Racecourse, a variety of dishes from casual to champagne and seafood tempt your palate. What could be more tempting than a night out at the races?

The Ayr Racecourse has the 4-star Western House Hotel right next door. How convenient for the traveler! A small but elegant hotel, it has 49 well appointed rooms. The on-site Jockey Club Lounge is an intimate restaurant that seats 30 for lunch and supper. Because of the hotel’s proximity to the Prestwick International Airport, it gives race fans from all over an ideal place to take a bit of a vacation. When you want to do something different, there is lots to explore or you could play golf at the Royal Troon golf course.

Whether it is a jumping or racing event, you will find yourself in a different world. Being immersed in the atmosphere and excitement of the racecourse, as well as enjoying the amenities available and the excellent pricing, are all great reasons to spend some time at the Ayr Racecourse. Why not head off to the races at Ayr and have a day to remember?