Prestwick Travel Guide - Scotland

Located on the west central coast of Scotland in South Ayrshire, the city of Prestwick is home to about 15,000 people. The name means village of the priest and dates back to the 10^th century. This town is the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland dating back to the 11^th century. It is only 33 miles southwest of Glasgow and is the ideal base for exploring the Isle of Arran and the many castles in the area. Prestwick is actually connected to the town of Ayr, which is only 2 miles away.

Prestwick is famous as the home of the Open Golf Championships. In fact the very first Open Golf tournament was played here in 1860 on the Prestwick Old Course, which was the venue for the first twelve championships. There are also two other golf courses here – St. Nicholas and St. Cuthbert's, so the avid golfer will certainly not have to complain about missing a stroke.

If you are a hockey fan, Prestwick will not disappoint you. It is the home of the champions, the Scottish Eagles and you can catch a game at the Centrum, which is the arena where many of the teams battle for the puck.

The airport here has had many important visitors, one of them being Elvis Presley, when he was part of the US Armed Forces. His plant touched down here on the way to the base in Germany. The airport in Prestwick is not as congested as those in other cities, although it does see about 600,000 passengers passing through each year. With the good weather in this area, this airport is often open when others are closed.

Prestwick has become a very popular tourist destination with its beautiful sandy beaches. Visit Bruce's Well, where Robert the Bruce is reputed to have had a drink of water. Take in some exciting action at the Ayr Racecourse, where you can join in the fun of betting on your favourite horse. Take a coach tour of the surrounding area or stroll through the streets of the town. The main street is lined with shops and cafes, most of which are independently owned. Purchase some unique knitwear or other genuine Scottish crafts to take back home with you as a souvenir of your visit.

With the numerous accommodations, you won't find it difficult to find a room in Prestwick even without reservations. There are tearooms, cafes and restaurants serving traditional Scottish foods as well as favourites from all over the world. Drop into one of the pubs and chat with the locals to find out about the history and culture of this exciting town.