All posts by Glenda A. White
I believe in Springtime
A Doddle around Darvel
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.
River Ayr walk
This is a gentle walk of approximately 8.5 miles along the banks of the River Ayr. The walk is mostly flat and includes some country roads near Auchincruive.
The walk commences from the car park on the north side of Ayr Academy in Beech Grove. The route crosses the University of the West of Scotland – Ayr Campus before joining the path on the north side of the River Ayr. The path heads eastwards towards Dalmilling Golf Course and from there continues on to Mainholm Smallholdings and towards the Auchincruive Estate. The return journey retraces the outward route back to the A77, crosses the river, and then takes the path on the south side of the river before recrossing the river back to the university grounds and the starting point.
Starting Point for the Walk:
At Ayr Academy Car Park, Beech Grove, Ayr – OS Reference NS 351 215.
Getting there from Glasgow: 37 miles / 50 minutes
Take your favourite route to the M77 towards Ayr. At the Whitletts Roundabout approach in the third lane and take the 3rd exit (A719/Whitletts Road). Continue down Whitletts Road, passing Ayr Race Course, and at the traffic lights turn left into Craigie Road (B747). At the next set of traffic lights turn left into Craigie Way. Take the first exit at the small roundabout to continue on Craigie Way and then the first right into Beech Grove. Just beyond the Premier Convenience Store turn right into Ayr Academy car park. There are toilet facilities at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Ayr Campus near where the outward/inward route joins the river path.
There are regular train and bus services from Glasgow to Ayr. The Starting Point for the Walk is approximately 1km from the railway station and 1.5km from the bus station.
The Walk:
Ayr River Walk – 8 miles (13 km) – Mostly flat earth paths and minor roads
From the Ayr Academy car park head south on Beech Grove towards the river. Pass another car park on the right and turn right at the junction and then first left to head southwards past the Ayr Riverside Guest Rooms. Continue on a short section of earth pathway and at the river turn left. The River Path heads east on the north side of the river.
Continue along the path on the north side of the river and on reaching Dalmilling Golf Course, follow the path to the A77. Cross the road bridge onto the south side of the river and turn right down steps. At the river turn right under the roadway and come up on the other side of the road. Turn right and head northwards for about 200m and then turn right into Mainholm Road. A road sign on the left points to the right and is signed ‘Mainholm Smallholdings’. Continue on this road (part of the River Ayr Way) and take the first right and then the first left and head towards Auchincruive on a quiet country road. Continue along the road until two large rocks appear at a junction.
Retrace the outward route back to the A77 passing under the road again. This time, instead of taking the steps back up to the A77 continue along the path on the south side of the river. Follow the path, in a westerly direction, with the river on the right and cross the River Ayr to the north bank using the Craigie Bridge. Retrace the outward route back to the car park at Ayr Academy.
The Alloway Loop
Starting Point for the Walk:
Burns Cottage Car Park, Alloway, Ayrshire – OS Reference NS 333 185.
Getting there: 40 miles / 50 minutes
Take your favourite route out of Glasgow onto the M8 (Greenock). Exit onto the M77 (Kilmarnock) and continue south on the M77/A77 until Holmston Roundabout on the outskirts of Ayr. Then follow the signs for Stranraer and Alloway (A77). At the next roundabout (Bankfield) follow the signs for Stranraer (A77). Turn right off the A77 (signed Alloway/Doonfoot/Heads of Ayr). There is also a brown tourist sign for Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Follow Doonholm Road until a small roundabout and turn right (2nd exit) and follow this to the junction with the B7024. Then turn left and at the mini-roundabout turn right into Greenfield Avenue and then after about 100m turn right into Burns Cottage car park. Closest train station is in Ayr, with local bus services to Burns cottage.
The Walk:
Alloway Loop – 5 miles (8 km) – Flat
From the car park next to Burns Cottage, cross the road and follow the “Poet’s Path” in the direction of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The Path has ten weather vanes and sculptures depicting scenes from Robert Burn’s poem Tam O’ Shanter. Cross over the wooden bridge and turn right at the museum heading towards the Auld Kirk. Toilets are available in the museum. The graveyard at the Auld Kirk dates from 1516 and contains the grave of Robert Burn’s father. The graveyard was also the setting for the dancing witches in Tam O’ Shanter.
From the Auld Kirk, cross over the road and turn right along the pavement towards the Burns National Monument and gardens. There is a nice garden to explore and excellent views from the top of the monument. There will be time to listen to Tam O’ Shanter in another outbuilding where the statues of Tam and Souter Johnny are on display.
Crossing over the Brig O’ Doon, take the path which leads towards the main road and then turn right and then left onto Longhill Avenue. Travel along Longhill Avenue and take the steps on the right, down onto the tree-lined cycle path. Turn right and follow the path over the River Doon. Mungo’s Well is on the north bank on the left.
Continue on the cycle path and at Maybole Road turn left. After 150m turn left into Kersepark and then right into Pemberton Valley. Opposite Broadwood Park turn right into a narrow lane that leads into woodland. Joining the woodland path, turn left and follow the path towards Rozelle Park. Cross The Loaning and continue into the park. Take the path to the left leading to Rozelle House and the Maclaurin Gallery. Wander around the park to take in the sculptures, the Story Stroll and the pond before heading back to the car park.
Kilmannan and Burnbrooks
With a distance of about 7 miles, this walk, which lies between Carbeth and Queen’s View, starts at the Eden Mill Farm Shop.
A forest track takes you up to Kilmannan reservoir. Passing this reservoir on its eastern edge continue on to the Burncrooks reservoir. After a circuit of this reservoir on a well-constructed walking path, pick up the waterworks road for the return journey to the farm shop car park. Part of the walk uses the John Muir Way.
Starting Point for the Walk:
Edenmill Farm Shop car park – OS Reference NS 514 793. The postal address for the Farm Shop is: Stockiemuir Road, Carbeth by Blanefield, G63 9AX.
Getting there: 10 miles/35 minutes
Take your favourite route towards Bearsden (A809) and on the northern side of Bearsden turn right onto the Stockiemuir Road (A809). Continue past Carbeth and at Auchengillan turn left (just past a parking area on the right) onto a narrow road (signed for the farm shop) with a 15mph speed limit. Continue for about 400m until the car park. Note: watch out for ‘speed bumps’, pedestrians and other road users!
The Walk: Burncrooks & Kilmannan Reservoirs – 7.2 miles (11.5 km) – Undulating
From the parking area, return to the gates of the car park and back up the road for about 100m. Note the house with scaffolding on the right and then turn left through more gates noting the John Muir Way (JMW) marker.
Continue on this tarmac path for about two kilometres to a junction – the JMW indicates to go left. However, keep straight on and shortly arrive at the end of the dam of the Burncrooks Reservoir. The path now descends to the right and curves round to the left to meet a stony track. Turn left, in a southerly direction, onto the JMW. Alternatively, cross the dam and follow a very muddy path for about 50m that climbs up to meet the aforementioned stony track.
Continue on this stony, undulating track until reaching the east side of Burncrooks Reservoir. At the junction of paths, the JMW goes left but turn right at this point and after a short distance, at a T-junction, turn left and go through a metal gate. The path descends to the banks of Kilmannan Reservoir. Near the dam the path leads away from the reservoir. Continue through Greenan Glen, with Auldmurroch Burn on the right, for a couple of kilometres, ignoring paths going off to the right, until the path meets the JMW again. Turn sharp left and continue on the JMW, in a north westerly direction, until back at the Edenmill Café car park.
A pootle about penicillin
This walk in the Ayrshire countryside takes in the birthplace of the renowned Scotsman, Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) who was a physician and microbiologist, and best known for discovering the world’s first broadly effective antibiotic substance, which he named penicillin.
Starting Point for the Walk:
The Car Park in Ranoldcoup Road, Darvel – OS Reference NS 563 373. About 36 miles from Glasgow, one hour and 10 minutes by car
Getting there:
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:
A Pootle around Penicillin – 6.5 miles 10 km) – Undulating with one steep uphill
From Ranoldcoup Road Car Park turn right, and then turn right again onto East Main Street. Pass the Railway Inn and continue the full length of East Main Street. At the end of the village cross the busy A71 with care and take the road on the left leading uphill (signposted Irvine Valley Walks).
Continue slowly uphill, past the cemetery and the path to Loudon Hill, until there is a crossroads. At this point the worst of the hills is over! Turn left and continue along this road with fields on either side. Once past Feoch Farm and just before Laigh Braidley Farm there is a road on the right which leads to Lochfield Farm. Here there is a notice for the birthplace of Sir Alexander Fleming. Sir Alexander Fleming was the eminent bacteriologist who discovered Penicillin. There is an option, for those who wish to do so, to take a detour to Lochfield farm to see it up close.
The main route continues gently up to the top of the rise where it zigzags and starts to head steeply downhill to Braidley Bridge which crosses the Glen Water. This is a particularly picturesque section of the walk. The road continues uphill for a short distance and then, at the T-junction turn left – the road on the right is a no through road. Continue past Gateside keeping left to cross Mucks Water at Mucks Bridge.
After a short uphill section the road continues at a high level to become Foulpapple Road and then starts to descend. The village of Darvel soon comes into view, and eventually there are a couple of modern-looking houses on the right. Turn left here onto Burn Road which is a steep, downhill, narrow road. It passes the Darvel Telephone Museum (on the right) just before the junction with West Main Street. At the junction, turn left to return to Ranoldcoup Road and the cars.
West Kilbride to Fairlie
Given that our Southsider friends have had some distance to travel lately, this walk gives them a break! It is also possible to use the train – indeed we all use the train to get to West Kilbride from Fairlie. It’s a very long time (October 2010) since we hiked to Portencross and we have never continued to Fairlie. From West Kilbride we stroll down through Kirktonhall Glen, emerging at Seamill. From then on it’s completely flat along the coast, through Portencross and along the coast to Goldenberry. All this stretch gives glorious (hopefully) views of the Clyde coast and islands, with history supplied at the Castle (King Robert II was a frequent visitor). Hunterston A Power Station is now decommissioned and provides feeding grounds for waders. Hunterston B still supplies 25% of Scotland’s electricity. Our walk ends finishes through an area of woodland before arriving at small waterside picnic area at Burnfoot and the waiting cars. About 8 downhill or flat miles!
Aberfoyle: Lang Crags
Starting Point for the Walk:
Western end of the large car park near The Forth Inn in Aberfoyle – OS Reference NN 521 009.
Getting there: 25 miles / 48 minutes
Take your favourite route out of Glasgow to Strathblane on the A81 (or towards Carbeth on the A809 and turn right onto the B834 and then left to join the A81 towards Aberfoyle). At the roundabout (by the Rob Roy Hotel) on the outskirts of Aberfoyle, turn left onto the A821. In Aberfoyle, turn left at the sign “Parking/Scottish Wool Centre”. Then turn right into the west section of the car park and use the parking bays near The Forth Inn. Parking is free and there are toilets nearby.
The Walk: Two Options …
Option 1 – Limes Craig Loop – 6 miles (10 km) – Relatively hilly
The walk starts at the car park and heads east past the Scottish Wool Centre and picks up the Rob Roy Way. Cross the A821 and take the Rob Roy Way past the Dounans Centre. As the path/Land Rover Track (LRT) enters the wooded area1, turn right. Continue along the LRT in a nominally easterly direction for about a mile. The next mile or so gently climbs up the southern slopes of Lime Craig. Take it at a gentle pace. The climb commences with a sharp left turn onto another a LRT. Then take a right turn onto a footpath and continue the ascent of Lime Craig heading in a nominally northerly direction. Just below the top of Lime Craig, turn sharp left to reach the summit. Then retrace the route for 0.1 mile and then turn left. This leads onto a relatively steep and rough path that descends the north side of Lime Craig. Take extra care here. Next, join the LRT and follow it in a nominally westerly direction for 0.5 mile (gently loosing height) before it turns sharp right. At the LRT ‘crossroads’, turn sharp left and gradually loose some more height; after 0.25 mile get great views toward a waterfall (which may look familiar to those who were on the October 2023 walk). After a further 0.25 mile of gentle descent, turn right onto another LRT and follow it in a nominally south westerly direction for 0.25 mile. Then cross a footbridge over the Allt a’ Mhangam burn2 and follow a meandering footpath that soon climbs (in a short and steep manner) up to The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre. Just west of The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre, pick up the “green marker” footpath for about 0.5 mile. Then take a sharp right turn onto a shared ‘footpath/cycle path’ and descend for 0.25 mile – this leads onto a very short section of road. Extra care is required here. Then follow a road-side footpath and arrive back in Aberfoyle.
Option 2 – David Marshall Loop – 3 miles ( 5 km) – Limited hills
This walk starts as for Option 1 but as the path/LRT enters the wooded area1, turn sharp left. Follow the “red marker” LRT in a nominally westerly direction for about 0.75 mile. At the footbridge over the Allt a’ Mhangam burn2 follow the route for Option 1.
Eaglesham wander
The New Year starts in Eaglesham, Scotland’s first conservation village. The walk goes through The Orry (a 15-acre A-shaped green area gifted to the inhabitants of the village by the 10th Earl of Eglinton) and exits the village onto Moor Road. Following a path that goes south-east, the route passes Picketlaw Reservoir, managed by Eaglesham Angling Association, and continues onward to Revoch Farm.
Crossing the Strathaven Road, the route crosses the Polnoon Water before passing the old mill (now converted into houses), several farms, and rolling countryside.
We detour into Auldhouse before following some quiet roads back into Eaglesham.