Whitletts Activity Centre

The Whitletts Activity Centre sits on the edge of South Ayrshire, a proper hub for anyone who actually wants to do something rather than just wander around. It's a sports facility that takes itself seriously - the kind of place where you'll see proper athletes training alongside families having a go at whatever's on offer that day.

What you get depends entirely on what's running when you visit, but the centre handles everything from badminton and squash to swimming and gymnastics. Some days it's chaos in the best way; other times you'll have courts to yourself. The staff know their stuff and won't pretend something's fun if it isn't.

Families get the most from this, especially if you've got kids who need to burn off energy that a park visit simply won't touch. Teenagers heading toward actual sports ambitions will take it more seriously than casual day-trippers. If you're just after a gentle potter, this isn't your spot.

The real value emerges when you're staying at Haven Craig Tara Holiday Park, barely a few miles down the road. A rainy Scottish afternoon that would otherwise mean hours of board games suddenly becomes a legitimate activity option. You're looking at a couple of hours maximum unless your lot are seriously committed athletes.

Check ahead before you go - opening times and what's actually running vary, and you'll want to know if you need to book. It's functional rather than fancy, but that's rather the point.