I'm thinking of staying a night or two in Largs and seeing some of the west coast as well as Culzean Castle. Does anyone know if Largs is a good place to stay? Thanks.

It's as good as anywhere else in Ayrshire!!

It was a traditional holiday resort for people from the Glasgow area, but is now more of a commuter and retirement town. It's a pleasant town with trains to Glasgow, ferries to Cumbrae island, easy access to Wemyss Bay (for ferries to Bute, www.calmac.co.uk) or Ardrossan (for the ferry to Arran), and excursions in summer by the WAVERLEY, the world's last sea-going paddle steamer (www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk).

Be sure to have a Knickerbocker Glory at the Italian named ice cream shop on the front.

.... Nardini's if memory serves me right. Family business owned by the same Nardini family as Daniela, she of "This Life" fame.

Anyway major feud going on in the family over the ice-cream business and whether to sell it or allow outside investors etc etc etc.

Now don't say you didn't learn anything interesting today.

Oh yes.. it's quite something too!

Dr D.

Nardini is the name I couldn't remember. Thanks.

If you are in Ayrshire in the right season, the Ayr races are a treat of different order - one of the premier meets of British racing.

Largs is certainly a reasonable base. And do go to Nardini's - yum!

But if you will have a car, I'd stay in one of the villages or in a farmhouse B&B near Ayr. Then you would be closer to Culzean and points south for some terrific sighseeing.

starla: Largs is a great little resort village. Neat shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants, a nice beach and a good location for westcoast touring. Locals flock to the beach in 17C+ weather. This last year was spectacular; warm summer days on end.
Culzean Castle is very worthwhile. The grounds and location are beautiful. There is a pub/cafe at the water's edge, The Anchorage, on the way to the Castle. Very pretty old place. A good stop for lunch. Great salmon!
There is also a well marked natural wonder on the left side of the road going south. You drive onto a section of road, put your car in neutral and the car will roll uphill. Can't remeber the name, but you can't miss it and it is fun.
Stirling castle would be an easy trip from Largs and very worthwhile. It is in a great state of repair with many interesting exhibits inside. The town is quaint, again, with good shops, cafes, pubs, restaurnts, etc.
There is a wonderful restaurant, the Chesnut in, I believe, Ayar. Again, salmon was the hit, but we went on two successive nights and it was all good. Very friendly service and a pretty dinning room.
My wife and I are Scotch whisky drinkers, single malts for the most part and some of the blends. We like an occaisional scotch old fashion. I know, I know, terrible thing to do a good Whisky. We ordered them at the Chestnut and they didn't know what it was. So, I dictated the recipe to the good natured wait person and he passed my instructions to the bartender. Turned out well enough; not exactly like mine, but pretty good. My wife and I and our daughter and son-in-law settled in to enjoy our scotch old fashions when I happened to glance toward the doorway opening to the kitchen and bar. There were about five people glancing around the corner in totem pole style, one above the other, big smiles on their faces. They had to see the crazy Americans that would do this to good whisky. We raised our glasses to them and they came over. We had a good laugh about the scotch old fashions. Turned into a really fun evening and the food was great.
If you really want to get crazy, drive down the coast to Carlisle Castle. It was where "Bonnie Prince Charlie had some success and where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. The Castle was started in 1039 and is an imposing fortress. The area around the castle is quaint and very interesting. This would be an all day trip, but you are about ten miles from the border at this point and could easly run over to Hadrian's Wall if that interests you.
We diden't care much for Glasgow. Too modern. Have to concede there are some great museums there and it isn't far from Largs. Have a great trip.

topping for starla.