Pet Friendly Hotels And Accommodation In Ayr, Scotland

Isn\’t it great when you go on a vacation to somewhere you have never visited before? Do you find yourself getting excited thinking about arriving in a new place to enjoy some free time? Did you know that pets too can enjoy (and benefit from) a break away from home? Increasing numbers of folk are choosing to take their pet with them on vacation and if you visit a place such as the city of Ayr in Scotland you begin to appreciate the many advantages (for you an your pet) such a place has over other cities in the UK. Unfortunately it isn\’t very easy finding pet friendly accommodation so I have listed a few Ayr hotels, that allow pets, below.

Located at the mouth of the River Ayr, on the picturesque Scottish south west coast, is the gorgeous town of Ayr. Each year a multitude of visitors arrive to investigate the many places in the town which where frequented by, or have some form of connection with, Robert Burns, the National poet of Scotland world renowned for poems and his lifestyle. Luckily there are a whole host of places to visit if you are interested in the poet\’s life and works and even more are to be found in the surrounding countryside. Traveling around the area you will also notice a large number of monuments dedicated to, and statues of, the loved bard.

The general area around Ayr is called the county of Ayshire for which the town serves as the main center (administrative). Overall the county consists of lovely lush and green rural and agricultural land and unspoiled coast and beaches. The lack of pollution is immediately apparent with fresh country smells and crystal clear water, just perfect for you and your pet. Animals love both the countryside and the seaside and as you both explore you may start to suffer from a little deja vu. The fact is that this fantastic part of Scotland is incredibly popular with movie makers and countless number of local places have appeared in numerous works including the mystical cult British masterpiece called \”The Wicker Man\”. The Wickerman Festival is held just down the road at the end of July each year, it is a family friendly music and arts festival which is growing in size and popularity and I can not recommend it enough.

The venue for the Wickerman Festival, although nearby, is situated in the adjacent county of Dumfries and Galloway. If you wish to attend it may be worth staying in pet friendly accommodation in Ayr or Ayrshire so that you can explore both regions (they are rather similar). If you do stay with your pet in a pet friendly guest house or hotel please try your best to make sure that there are no problems (damage and the likes) as pet friendly accommodation is rare and it may only take one bad experience for the establishment to no longer allow pets.

Three Hotels Which Allow Pets

The Swallow Station Hotel

The Swallow Station is a large, 73 roomed, hotel situated in the very heart of the town, overlooking Burns Statue Square right by the train station. Situated 10 minutes from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport this 3 star establishment features a restaurant and bar plus it does not charge extra for pets.

Horizon Hotel

Another centrally located pet friendly hotel the Horizon offers 3 star accommodation in a considerably smaller establishment (25 rooms). No extra charges incurred for pets. Excellent views over towards the Isle of Arran.

The Savoy Park Hotel

Another 3 star pet friendly hotel is the Savoy Park, minutes from the town center. A small (fifteen rooms) family run establishment which does not charge extra for pets and offers free broadband internet in every room.

Pet Friendly Ayr Guest Houses

Canter Holm

The 3 star, 6 roomed, Canter Home offers superb pet friendly Ayr accommodation in a lovely Victorian residence close to the center of town. Although there is free internet access throughout the guest house they may make a charge if you have your pet staying with you.

Grange View

With only three rooms the 3 star Grange View Guest House is located roughly two to three minutes walk from the very center of Ayr. Pets are allowed and there are no extra charges and you will find the owners extremely helpful in making any requirements such as arranging reservations for restaurants and the likes.

Well that is the end of our list which although short it is as comprehensive as it could be. In my opinion far too few hotels in Ayr allow pets and even fewer guest houses say pets allowed in their policies. This is really unfortunate but we hope that you manage to make a booking (they can be busy) and that you and your pet have a wonderful vacation.

If you are searching for pet friendly hotels in Ayr or you are looking to pick up a last minute bargain you will find the above mentioned hotels discounted at http://hotels.simplytop.com/.

Introducing Scottish Highland Vacations

The Scottish Highlands are found on the northwest fringe of Europe along the west of Scotland. The rough and rugged countryside has been created by geological shifts, glacial action, the harsh weather and mankind. The grandeur of the highlands is immense and along the long coast the seascapes are breathtaking in all weathers. In this part of the world sunsets are often spectacular with deep red skies and maroon lochs with hues between forever shifting and changing before they fade into the night. Man sometimes seems insignificant in such locations but this part of Scotland has seen more that it’s fair share of human drama throughout the centuries. Tourism in the region is extremely popular with those looking for exciting outdoor pursuits especially in such places as Fort William.

Fort William is a medium sized town but it is the largest town in the Highlands. While initial impressions are usually to the negative this is mainly due to the fact that the seafront was replaced by a huge road but venture onto the High Street and some of the old character begins to show. Even though there are a few historical sites of merit in and around the town most visitors are here to enjoy such things as hill walking, rambling and mountain climbing and you do not stand much chance of missing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, which towers above the town.

Many of the visitors to Fort William have arrived to take up the challenge of Ben Nevis but if you are not a world class mountaineer you will be pleased to learn that one of the faces is suitable for the less able mountain climbers. Though the route is considered rather easy far too many people make the terrible, often fatal, mistake of not going suitable equipped. The weather on the mountain can change in an instant and what was a sunny summer day can suddenly become a blinding blizzard, yes it can snow on the mountain at any time of the year. Less people die each year on Mount Everest than die at Ben Nevis so please take the most care possible.

If you enjoy spectacular views then you will enjoy Ben Nevis but for those who are not prepared to go to such lengths there are a number of other places which offer incredible views. One of the best ways in which to take in some of the most beautiful sights of the area is to take a ride on the West Highland Railway from Fort William to Mallaig.

For fans of the Harry Potter films a visit to the Highlands of Scotland would not be complete without taking a trip on the Jacobite steam train. The Jacobite is the steam engine used to play the part of Hogwarts’ Express and one of the most recognised parts of the route is over the Glenfinnan Aqueduct which has been rechristened by fans as the “Harry Potter Bridge”.

Another view which you will catch a glimpse of while on the Jacobite is the Glenfinnan Monument. Standing looking out across Loch Shiel the monument is a memorial to the raising of the standard by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 and those who fought the Jacobean cause.

When the steam train reaches Glenfinnan Railway Station it will remain there for about twenty minutes which will give you enough time to take a quick look around the lovely museum in the grade II listed building or grab something to eat in the old dining car which has excellent homemade food.

Taking a journey on the Jacobite steam train can be a full day out, leaving from Fort William in the morning arriving shortly after in Glenfinnan and then on to Mallaig returning later that afternoon. That’s twice you will be traveling along one of the most beautiful stretches of railway track in Great Britain.

Learn more about hotels in Fort William. Stop by Karl Fraser’s site where you can find the best deals on Fort William Hotels.

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Scotland, Alternative Vacations

The country of Scotland offers the finest scenery in Great Britain making it a highly popular vacation destination. Countless visitors to Scotland opt for Edinburgh for their main destination, whereas a smaller number decide upon something a little different. The following examines vacations in Scotland and some of the things to do when in Scotland. I also examines the Wickerman Festival.

With such an incredibly diverse countryside the range of activities is endless. Mountain climbing is tremendously popular, as are cycling vacations. The most common vacations are fishing or golf. With the country of Scotland being the home of golf it should not be surprising that you are never too distant from at least one excellent golf course. With the Rivers Tweed, Tay and Spey you can be sure of a superb days fishing. But what if you want an alternative vacation?

An increasing number of people are choosing music festivals their annual vacation. Even though the vast majority of music festivals are incredibly large with a focus upon making money, you can find a small selection of family orientated music festival, for example the Wickerman Festival and Tartan Heart.

More of a music and arts festival, the annual Wickerman festival is held on a farm close to Dundrennan, Dumfries and Galloway roughly 5m away from the Scottish town of Kirkcudbright. The event celebrates the classic cult British film, “The Wicker Man which features Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt, Britt Ekland and Diane Cilento.

The first festival was held in July two thousand and two and was organized by local man, Sid Ambrose. With next to no experience of organizing a music festival it is a surprise that it still exists today, especially when you think about the present economic climate. Wickerman has changed each year and, like the movie, has a cult following.

The festival is incredibly family friendly it features many child orientated activities for example, a mountain biking trek, numerous fairground rides, face painting and workshops. This can be verified easily by by visiting a search engine and searching for Wickerman Festival photographs 2009 or alternatively pop along to the official Wickerman Festival Gallery.

Not too far from the site of the festival is the small village of Kirkudbright which was where many of the films locations can be found for example Harbour Cottage which was used for the bakery and High Street Gallery (post office and sweetshop). You will find that there are a great many places worth visiting in Dumfries and Galloway and it is really worth having a short vacation here so that you can visit all of the tourist attractions. Common places in which to stay include Castle Douglas and Dumfries. Bed and breakfast in Scotland is nearly always superb quality and is also very affordable and much less costly than staying in a hotel.

Introducing Swansea vacations

Are you sick of the same old same old when it comes to your annual vacation? Are you looking for somewhere different to visit? Do you want to lounge on a beach in the hot sun or do you want a lively and vibrant city break in a city such as Swansea?

Swansea is a large (the second largest by size of population) city in the small country of Wales in the UK. Located on the coast the city is within short reach of a number of fantastic locations suitable for all manner of vacation. Those in search of a spectacular beach will actually be spoilt for choice with some of the finest beaches in Britain just minutes away.

Besides the fantastic beaches, Swansea has a wealth of visitor attractions to entice you to have a vacation there. While the city has the sea in one direction and incredible scenery in the other, the city has all the usual entertainment facilities to keep you occupied for good amount of time.

Popular Swansea Beaches

The surrounding area is known as the county of Swansea and the number of beaches within it’s boundaries is astounding. The most popular beaches are found in the Gower Peninsila with Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay being the most widely known. Other beaches in the area include Rhossili Beach, Mumbles Beach, Brandy Cove, Foxhole Bay, Horton Bay and many more plus Swansea Bay itself.

Many tourist flock to the beaches to enjoy the sun or go swimming in the sea. These are fine for families and the like but for the thrill seeker Swansea Bay may be more suitable. The bay is used extensively for all manner of water sports, primarily sailing but also popular are water skiing, surfing, wind surfing and virtually every other type of water sport.

Other Tourist Attractions

As I have said earlier Swansea has all of the expected modern entertainments (cinema etc.) and amenities (bars, cafes, pubs and clubs) but the city also has it’s fair share of museums, galleries and other cultural attractions. The Dylan Thomas Centre, in the Maritime Quarter, celebrates the local connections, which include Cwmdonkin Park (one of the places where he played during his childhood). There are plenty of parks and gardens to take a leisurely walk and cycling is also very popular (the Celtic Trail is great if you fancy a cycling vacation). Swansea really does have everything going for it.

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