This circular walk, of approximately 7 miles, links the towns of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane. The walk initially follows the Allan Water starting at the west side of Bridge of Allan and follows along the Darn Road (an old drove road). It continues as a path between drystane dykes, passes fields, a golf course and Kippencross House before entering the town of Dunblane. The route returns along Glen Road crossing the Wharry Bridge and dropping back into Bridge of Allan and the starting point.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Blairforkie Drive in Bridge of Allan (just off the roundabout on Henderson Street).   There is plenty of free parking available on Blairforkie Drive – OS Reference NS 788 978.

Getting there: 34 miles/50 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M8 (Edinburgh) and then onto the M80 (Stirling).  Then continue onto the M9 and exit at Junction 11 (the end of the M9).  At this roundabout, take the 4^th exit onto the A9 (Bridge of Allan) heading south.  Enter Bridge of Allan on Henderson Street, pass the Bridge of Allan railway station, cross the bridge over the Allan Water and immediately turn left into Blairforkie Drive and park at a convenient location.

The Walk:  Bridge of Allan/Dunblane Loop – 7.0 miles (11 km)

Starting from the foot of Blairforkie Drive, go up the road and after about 400 yards turn left where the start of the ‘Darn Road’ is signed.  Follow this as it runs above the Allan Water then bear right into a gorge carrying a burn.  Cross carefully by stones and a footbridge before continuing uphill to the right.  The track eventually continues as a sunken path between drystane dykes, past fields and skirts past Dunblane Golf Course and close to Kippencross House.  Halfway along the sunken path, alongside a golf fairway, the path veers left – follow it to a main road on the edge of Dunblane.  Continue into Dunblane and along by the Allan Water towards the cathedral.  There are benches  for a lunch or rest.

After lunch, walk back to the main road and turn left up to the roundabout and follow the Glen Road signed for Sheriffmuir.  After a mile, ignore the sign for Sheriffmuir, and carry straight on down a single-track road.  This becomes traffic free after about half a mile.  Continue on the Glen Road and cross the Wharry Bridge, eventually dropping into Bridge of Allan.  Pass through Sunnylaw, and after approximately 500 yards, turn right into Blairforkie Drive to return to the starting point.

Starting Point for the Walk:

On the road below the church on Braxfield Row/New Lanark Road – OS Reference NS 880 426.

Getting there: 32 miles / 59 minutes

Take your favourite route to the M74 towards Carlisle.  Exit the M74 at Junction 7 (Lanark/Larkhall) and turn left onto the A72 (brown signed New Lanark).  At the roundabout just before Garrion Bridge go left and at the Garrion Bridges Roundabout take the 3^rd exit onto the A72 (Lanark) and continue through Rosebank, Crossford, and Kirkfieldbank.  Enter Lanark from the north side and, at the traffic lights, turn right to join the A73/A473 (brown signed New Lanark).  Continue through the town and past the train station.  At the roundabout take the 3^rd exit (Hyndford Road) towards New Lanark.  Take a very sharp left turn into Braxfield Road (then onto New Lanark Road) and follow the signs to New Lanark.  On approaching the main car park for New Lanark turn right to zig-zag down to New Lanark.  Park on the street.  If there is no parking available return to the main car park (fee payable) and walk down to the village.  There are toilets and a café at the Visitor Centre.

The Walk:  Falls of Clyde Circular – 7 miles (11 km) – Occasional steep inclines/declines and steps

Staring from the old church, walk up the main road (New Lanark Road) and just before the road swings sharply to the right, turn left onto the signed Clyde Walkway.  Follow this woodland path downwards to the River Clyde and continue past Braxfield Park.  At the steep zig-zag path which climbs to the right, leave the views of the river and emerge into Castlebank Park.  Turn left onto the metalled park road and at the entrance to the park turn left onto St Patrick’s Road.  Follow this minor road to the end and turn left onto Chisholme Brae which passes the water works and meets the river again.

Continue onwards and after passing a few buildings turn left and cross the old bridge (Riverside Road).  Then turn left again into Kirkfield Road.  With the road rising gently, turn left through an old stone gateway onto a woodland track.  Follow this gently rising track watching out for wildlife and spectacular views of the river and falls.  The area is part of the Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve.  Continue past the ruins of Corra Castle and some minor falls and at Bonnington Linn cross the bridge to the east side of the river and turn left.  Continue on this gently descending path towards Corra Linn and the Falls of Clyde.  Pause at the viewing area for the Falls and then continue on the path down past the Bonnington hydro-electric power station at Corehouse.  Just past the power station bare left towards the river and continue onto a short stretch of boardwalk.  The path then continues towards the village and then passes The Mechanic’s Workshop, Robert Owen’s School, the site of Mill 4, the Institute for the Formation of Character, and Mill 3 (the New Lanark Visitor Centre and Café).  Return to the cars parked on the street or at the main car park.

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.

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.