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School will soon be out for summer and for many people that means one thing – seven whole weeks to keep the kids entertained! Take the stress out of the school holidays with this huge range of activities from South Ayrshire Council. Kids can enjoy sports, science, arts, crafts and much more. Some of the activities must be booked in advance though, so sign up soon to avoid disappointment!
The Cutty Sark Centre at the bottom of Ayr High Street has lots of sports, arts and science activities throughout the whole month of July – and it’s all FREE!
These events don’t require pre-booking, but children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
A chance to revisit the Pageant of Ayrshire, a historical event held for 7 days in 1934 which had over 3,000 performers and attracted more than 90,000 visitors! These weekly sessions for 3 – 16 year olds offer arts, crafts and varying outdoor activities such as archery, axe-throwing and a climbing wall.
A range of sports and activities for 3 – 16 year olds, such as new age curling, Boccia, archery and crafts on a Commonwealth Games theme. There are also outdoor games and activities from local outdoor education team, Undersky.
Starter lessons for 12 – 17 year olds on ways to interpret the world around you. Bring your own pencils, paint or digital notepad and learn simple techniques to improve your images.
Try out different experiments to see how our bodies work!
Explore the mysteries of the night sky – VR headsets and plenty of space-related fun!
South Ayrshire Council’s Active Communities team have loads lined up so children and young people can stay active over the summer holidays:
Fun-filled sports and games for 5 – 12 year olds at weekly camps running at secondary schools across the region.
Camps run between 6 July – 14 August, and are open from 9am – 3pm each day. Cost is £12 per day, with a 20% discount for siblings. Booking required – visit Active South Ayrshire.
Fun activities for nursery age children, taking place between 6 July – 14 August at the same venues as the Multi-Sports Camps above. Sessions run from 10.00am – 10.45am each day, at a cost of £3.50 per session, with a 20% discount for siblings. Booking required – visit Active South Ayrshire
In celebration of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 and Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, there are loads of free opportunities happening throughout the summer. Keep an eye on Active South Ayrshire for more details.
Action packed days of outdoor activities with the chance to learn new skills, have fun and explore the great outdoors from this fabulous base at Culzean Castle and Country Park!
Taking place between 6 – 10 July, cost is £50 for a full day (9.00am – 4.45pm) with a 20% discount for siblings. Lunch and snacks included, with transport to and from Culzean available from Ayr and Maybole. Booking required – see Active South Ayrshire
Opportunities for young people to discover the freedom and fun of cycling! Running throughout the summer, these free weekly sessions include mountain biking, led rides, Learn2Ride and more. For more details see Active South Ayrshire.
For enquiries on all of the above, plus Inspire Sports Camps for young people with additional support needs, email [email protected].
South Ayrshire Council’s Sport & Leisure team has a great Holiday Programme to keep the kids active all summer. This includes:
Bounce and Play sessions at Coylton Activity Centre. Youngsters can burn off energy on the bouncy castles, with sessions for 2 – 6 yrs, P1 – 7 and ASN families (Inspire). Cost is from £3 per session.
Gymnastics Camps at Whitletts Activity Centre, Ayr for children 4 years and over. Action packed sessions with gymnastics and fun games for beginners and those with some experience. Cost is £15 for a half day and £30 for a full day.
Sports Camps for 5 – 12 year olds at the Riverside Sports Arena. Exciting activities, friendly games and fun learning experiences. Full day camps (9am – 4pm) cost £15 per day (selected dates only). Full week camps cost £75 per week.
There will also be swim clinics and crash courses at Prestwick Leisure Club and Citadel Leisure Centre Ayr.
Booking is required for all these activities. For more information, latest availability and to book, go to Holiday Programme – South Ayrshire Council
Follow ‘Sport and Leisure South Ayrshire’ on Facebook to find out more about their Summer Swimming Timetables that will include Kids Go Free General Swims, General Swims, Fun & Floats, as well as the Inflatable Fun Run at Prestwick and Maybole Leisure Clubs.
Plus, be sure to make use of South Ayrshire’s fabulous Parks and Open Spaces this summer – perfect for picnics and plenty of room to let off steam!
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