Best Luxury Hotels in Ayrshire
A short hop from the city of Glasgow, Ayrshire is a historic crescent-shaped area of the southwest coast of Scotland. Meeting the Firth of Clyde, it’s a jumping-off point for some picturesque islands and home to sandy beach resorts including Ayr, Largs, Troon and Irvine. Slightly further inland, it’s a rich farming region, with an array of locally grown produce that can be sampled in Ayrshire’s restaurants and hotels. Attractions here include the Scottish Maritime Museum, the National Trust’s Culzean Castle and Robert Burns’ Birthplace Museum. These are our favourite places to stay in Ayrshire.
Scotland, Ayrshire, Ballantrae
Glenapp Castle
(5 stars)Hidden within 36 acres of Italian gardens and woodland outside of Ballantrae, this hotel lies close to the Ayrshire coastline. A late 19th-century baronial castle, it was first intended as the family seat for the Earl of Inchcape and holds a significant claim to fame – Winston Churchill was said to have discussed the D-Day landings while staying here in the 1940s. Pursuits for the well-heeled are a speciality – shooting, fishing and falconry, as well as tennis and croquet. Inside, guests can relax beside log fires, feast on six-course meals and peruse enormous wine lists. 17 bedrooms offer a period feel filled with antiquities and panelled or marble bathrooms include Penhaligon toiletries.
Scotland, Ayrshire, Troon
Marine Troon
(5 stars)
TLE Recommends: Stop for a pre dinner drink in The Seal and watch the sunset in the sky over Arran Standing tall over the 1st and 18th fairways of Royal Troon’s Old Course, this Victorian landmark has been a fixture of the South Ayrshire coast ever since it opened in 1894. Brought into the Marine and Lawn Hotels collection in 2021, it offers 89 rooms and suites complete with maximalist interiors, while its 2 AA Rosette restaurant, The Rabbit and bar The Seal are standalone destinations in themselves. Combine this with a comprehensive spa and leisure club, and you have more than just a golf destination, but one of Scotland’s great coastal hotels.
Scotland, Ayrshire, Turnberry
Trump Turnberry
(5 stars)Standing proudly above storied golf links and the rugged Ayrshire coastline, Trump Turnberry provides modern Edwardian opulence and attention to detail along with 800 rolling acres of countryside where legendary King Robert the Bruce once had his castle. The property has been a landmark since 1906 and not only is it a renowned golf destination, featuring the famous Ailsa course it also offers a large destination spa and a wide range of outdoor pursuits including equestrian activities and clay pigeon shooting. Dining options include its signature 1906 restaurant, Grand Tea Lounge and Bar, and the Duel in the Sun, a golf-inspired eatery each overlooking its famous golf courses.
