Heads of Ayr (Holiday Camp)
Encyclopedia
The Heads of Ayr Holiday Camp is a holiday camp located near Ayr
in South Ayrshire
, Scotland
. It is currently run by Haven Holidays. When originally opened in 1946, it was named Butlins
Ayr, but in 1987 was renamed Wonderwest World. Since being taken over by Haven Holidays it has been renamed Craig Tara.
, who had already taken over his camp at Filey
, asked Billy Butlin
to construct two new camps; one in North Wales
and the other in Scotland
. Butlin found 85 acres (34.4 ha) on the coast neighbouring the Heads of Ayr.
In 1946 after the war had ended, Butlin took back ownership of the camp from the Admiralty and Butlins Ayr was opened to the public after some reconstruction work.
Heads of Ayr holiday camp contained all of the tried and tested Butlins ingredients: the famous Butlins Redcoats
, a funfair, early morning wake up, a dining hall (with the cheers going up when a waitress dropped a plate), indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a ballroom, a boating lake, tennis courts, a sports field (for the three legged
and egg & spoon races
and the donkey derby), table tennis
and snooker
tables, an amusement arcade
, a medical centre, a theatre, arcades of shops, a chairlift
system and a miniature railway.
The camp continued to be successful, and in 1987 a £25 million investment programme was announced. Work began in 1988 with £12 million used to construct a new swimming pool and upgrade the accommodation. A further £13 million investment followed over the next 5 years. Once the renovations were completed the camp was renamed Wonderwest World.
. It was closed again on 16 September 1968.
who owned both Butlins and Haven. Since being taken over by Haven Holidays it has been renamed Craig Tara and the focus of operations has been transformed from predominantly chalet accommodation to mostly static caravan accommodation.
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
in South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is currently run by Haven Holidays. When originally opened in 1946, it was named Butlins
Butlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
Ayr, but in 1987 was renamed Wonderwest World. Since being taken over by Haven Holidays it has been renamed Craig Tara.
Butlins
During the Second World War the AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, who had already taken over his camp at Filey
Filey
Filey is a small town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the borough of Scarborough and is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on the North Sea coast. Although it started out as a fishing village, it has a large beach and is a popular tourist resort...
, asked Billy Butlin
Billy Butlin
Sir William Heygate Edmund Colborne Butlin, , was a British, South Africa-born entrepreneur whose name is synonymous with the British holiday camp.American Heritage Dictionary 2004, p. 135.Scott 2001, p. 5...
to construct two new camps; one in North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the other in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Butlin found 85 acres (34.4 ha) on the coast neighbouring the Heads of Ayr.
In 1946 after the war had ended, Butlin took back ownership of the camp from the Admiralty and Butlins Ayr was opened to the public after some reconstruction work.
Heads of Ayr holiday camp contained all of the tried and tested Butlins ingredients: the famous Butlins Redcoats
Redcoats (Butlins)
Redcoat is the name given to frontline staff at Butlins holiday camps. A Redcoat may have many duties ranging from adult entertainer or children's entertainer to stewarding.-History:The first Redcoat was Norman Bradford...
, a funfair, early morning wake up, a dining hall (with the cheers going up when a waitress dropped a plate), indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a ballroom, a boating lake, tennis courts, a sports field (for the three legged
Three-legged race
A favorite at community picnics and school carnivals, a three-legged race is a game of cooperation between partners as much as it is one of speed. It involves two participants attempting to complete a short sprint with the left leg of one runner strapped to the right leg of another runner...
and egg & spoon races
Egg and spoon race
An egg-and-spoon race is a sporting event in which participants must carry an egg or other roundish object on a teaspoon, tablespoon or wooden spoon and race to the finish line without dropping the egg or without running while the egg is not on the spoon...
and the donkey derby), table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
tables, an amusement arcade
Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade may refer to:* Penny arcade, a venue for coin-operated devices* Penny Arcade ** Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, a series of video games based on the webcomic...
, a medical centre, a theatre, arcades of shops, a chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
system and a miniature railway.
The camp continued to be successful, and in 1987 a £25 million investment programme was announced. Work began in 1988 with £12 million used to construct a new swimming pool and upgrade the accommodation. A further £13 million investment followed over the next 5 years. Once the renovations were completed the camp was renamed Wonderwest World.
Heads of Ayr Hotel
In 1947 Butlin began work on a hotel on the site which shared the camp's resources. It was completed in 1948 and opened as the Heads of Ayr hotel. The hotel continued to operate until the 1970s when it was closed and demolished.Railway station
On 17 May 1947 a railway station was opened for the use of the camp and the nearby hotel, shortly before nationalisation and the formation of British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
. It was closed again on 16 September 1968.
Haven Holidays
In 1999 the camp became part of Haven Holidays along with the Pwllheli camp as part of an internal reorganisation within Bourne LeisureBourne Leisure
Bourne Leisure Holdings Limited is a British private company which owns a number of subsidiary undertakings operating in the leisure and holiday sectors in the United Kingdom....
who owned both Butlins and Haven. Since being taken over by Haven Holidays it has been renamed Craig Tara and the focus of operations has been transformed from predominantly chalet accommodation to mostly static caravan accommodation.