Starting Point for the Walk:

At the Car Park in Ranoldcoup Road, Darvel – OS Reference NS 563 373.

Getting there: 28 miles / 43 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M77 towards Ayr.  Once on the M77 continue to Junction 6 signed Galston A77.  After ½ mile turn right onto A77 (Galston) and go under the M77.  At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Ayr Road signed Galston A77 (A719).  After about a mile turn left onto A719.  Continue through Waterside and Moscow and after about 6 miles (at the Galston roundabout) take the first exit onto A71.  Continue through Newmilns and arrive in Darvel after about 3 miles.  Just past an attractive square on the right, turn right into Ranoldcoup Road.  Continue down Ranoldcoup Road to a car park on the left, opposite Collins Avenue.

The Walk: 

Darvel, Lanfine Estate & Newmilns Circular – 8.3 miles (13 km)

Leave the car park on Ranoldcoup Road and turn left down towards the River Irvine and the Ranoldcoup Bridge.  After crossing the bridge go through the gates straight ahead to enter the lovely Lanfine Estate which was ablaze with rhododendrons on the recée.  Continue on this surfaced track passing an enclosed section which is the home to wild boar (hopefully on show) until a stone bridge over the Newlands Burn.  Instead of crossing the bridge follow a wooded path off to the left which leads towards a waterfall.  The path meanders through pleasant woodlands and eventually crosses a burn and leads to a wider track.  At this point Lanfine House can be seen through gaps in the trees.  Continue left onto a small road and at the junction, turn left onto another small estate road.

At the crossroads, there is the option to have a shorter walk of 5 miles, by taking the road to the right and walking, initially, in a westerly direction.  This shorter route rejoins the main route in Brown Street (see below).  Those doing the full walk continue south and follow the road uphill until it becomes a track.

This track turns to the right after a few hundred yards, and at a junction with two other tracks bear right towards Bonnieton Hill Plantation.  The rewards of the uphill section are the views across the valley and a lovely flat track!  The route now follows this main track, ignoring any small paths going off, until it meets Windyhill Road.  Turn right down the road in the direction of Newmilns.  On the outskirts of the town the route goes right, along Brown Street, where there are some closed/derelict remains of the old lace industry and then some attractive cottages lining the road.  Continue along Brown Street (in to which joins the shorter route) until almost the end and, before the bridge, turn right into Brown’s Road which meanders alongside the River Irvine back to Ranoldcoup Bridge.  Turn left and retrace the route to the car park.