Starting at the Falkirk Wheel, this walk of about 7 miles includes the Falkirk Tunnel and its colourful lighting system. The tunnel was cut through 630 metres of solid rock. The walk then continues along the Union Canal before returning to the Falkirk Wheel.

The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift. It connects the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal (a height difference of 35m) by a piece of marvellous engineering. It opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 locks. Now, in a mere half-turn of the wheel, a vessel is easily transported from one canal to the other. The power used to do this is equivalent to boiling eight kettles!

This circular winter walk takes us to the old mining village of Annbank in Ayrshire.

The walk starts from the village bowling green and heads north to Brockle Wood before entering the Auchincruive Estate and heading to the River Garden.

After looping through the estate, we pass Auchincruive House (designed for the Oswald family by Robert Adam around 1764 but substantially modified before being built) before descending to join the River Ayr for a pleasant return walk to Annbank and the starting point.

We then head to Ayr and the Chestnuts Hotel for our annual Christmas Lunch.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Dalreoch Station car park – OS Reference NS 391 756.

Getting there: 13 miles/36 minutes

Take the A82 out of Glasgow to the West.  Pass the Erskine Bridge and descend to a major roundabout at Bowling.  After a short distance, at traffic lights, turn left onto the A814 towards Dumbarton and Helensburgh.  Follow the road through Dumbarton and follow the signs to Helensburgh.  After crossing the River Leven, in Dumbarton, turn right into Dalreoch Station Car Park.  Parking is free.  There are regular train services to and from Glasgow.

The Walk:  Dalreoch to Balloch – 7.0 miles (11 km)

Exit the car park at Dalreoch Station onto the riverside path and turn right to go South.  At Bridge Street, cross over the road into Woodyard Road and then enter Levengrove Park at the corner of Levenford Terrace.  The park sits at the junction between the point where the River Leven meets the River Clyde and tea and coffee are available from an attractive shop in the park.  Exit the park to the North (retracing the outward route from Dalreoch Station) and then follow an excellent riverside walk along the River Leven.  The river has two unusual loops at Dalquhurn Point and Cordale Point.  A grassy path on each loop deviates from the main tarmac path for a closer walk by the river.  Rejoining the main path each time, the route passes Renton, Vale of Leven, Alexandria, Dalmonach, and Jamestown before reaching Balloch.

Take the train from Balloch Station to Dalreoch Station to return to the Starting Point.

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!