Ballantrae
A view of Ballantrae village with views over the Ailsa Craig

Ballantrae

Originally a fishing village, quaint Ballantrae is located south of Girvan on the coastal trail. With beautiful views towards Ailsa Craig, Arran and Kintyre, its beaches are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and home to a range of coastal plant life and a colony of breeding birds. 

It’s a place for stories, with tales of daring Covenanters, a tragic heiress who died in her attempt to be the first woman aviator to cross the Atlantic, and it was the romantic and evocative location for Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel, ‘The Master of Ballantrae’.  

Then, of course, there’s the gruesome legend of the notorious cannibal, Alexander ‘Sawney’ Bean, who along with his tribe murdered and ate many an unsuspecting traveller. Are you brave enough to explore his secluded caves at Bennane Head and Balcreuchan Port? 

Find out more

Map

Eat and Drink

Ballantrae
a fish dish served with edible flowers

Glenapp Castle

The dining at Glenapp Castle is an exceptional experience, whether it be fine dining in our award-winning restaurant or in our Moncur & McKenzie Victorian...

Stay

Ballantrae
glenapp_castle2

Glenapp Castle

Glenapp Castle is a 21-bedroom, Relais & Chateaux hotel on the Ayrshire coast and set in the heart of 110 acres of private estate and...

Things To Do

Ballantrae
Ballantrae Bay Beach

Ballantrae Beach

Ballantrae beach is beautiful place to visit, with a charming mixture of tranquillity and ruggedness. To the north is the harbour, once home to a...

What's On

Ayr
Image of Jupiter+ Storefront with Rachel Maclean posing in front of it.
22 September - 23 December 2023
Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm
Free

Rachel Maclean: Jupiter+

Ayr
Graphic illustration of young girl with red hair dancing in the street at night.
11 November 2023 - 4 February 2024
See listing for opening times
Free

The Graphic Novel World of Metaphrog Exhibition

Maybole
Festive stars lit up
Throughout November and December
Various times

Festive North Carrick

Ayr
Two pieces of artwork side by side. converge:diverge Gordon Cockburn and Ronald Rae. Joint retrospective - a conversation over five decades
18 November 2023 - 28 January 2024
See listing for opening hours
Free

Converge:Diverge

Ayr
A blue background with a glass slipper and the heading Cinderella.
Friday 1 December 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024
2pm, 12pm and 6.30pm
Prices variable – please see individual performances

Cinderella

Kirkmichael
A picture of an elf dancing on the snow and the title tays Elffy's Christmas Adventure.
Tuesday 5 December 2023
4pm
3 to £6

Gaiety on Tour: Elffy’s Christmas Adventure! – McCosh Hall, Kirkmichael

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