This route follows the sand, shingle and pebble beach from Ballantrae harbour along to Bennane Hill at which point it heads inland to follow the A77 down to Lendalfoot.
Description
(S) From the car park on The Vennel, Ballantrae, turn right (North) onto The Vennel and follow the road round the corner onto Foreland.
(1) Walk along the grass until you reach the small harbour. Use the slip to access the beach.
(2) Walk along the beach for almost 3km, heading inland (right - East) at two cottages beneath Bennane Hill, as directed by the Ayrshire Coastal Path signage.
(3) Follow the track up onto the grass verge beside the A77 Trunk Road.
Turn left (North East) and for the next 3.5km walk along the grass verges beside A77 Trunk Road. Look out for Ayrshire Coastal Path signage as you go, which directs you to cross the road several times to take advantage of wider (and therefore safer) verges.
(4) On reaching Pebbles Spa go down onto the beach.
(E) Walk along the sandy shore for approx 1km until you reach the Varyag memorial car park on your right-hand side.
Waypoints
- S : km 0 - alt. 4 m - The Vennel, Ballantrae (KA26 0NH)
- 1 : km 0.57 - alt. 3 m - Ballantrae harbour and slip
- 2 : km 3.76 - alt. 3 m - Cottages beneath Bennane Hill
- 3 : km 3.96 - alt. 11 m - A77 Trunk Road
- 4 : km 7.61 - alt. 7 m - Pebbles Spa
- E : km 8.94 - alt. 3 m - Varyag memorial car park (KA26 0JG)
Useful Information
For more information and a route review visit Gillian's Walks
Transport
- Car park on The Vennel, Ballantrae (KA26 0NH) and at Varyag memorial, Lendalfoot (KA26 0JG)
- Bus services to Ballantrae and Lendalfoot
Amenities
Public toilets in Ballantrae (next to car park) as well as food/accommodation
Terrain
Sand, shingle and pebble beaches as well as grass verges alongside a busy Trunk Road.
You can purchase the official Ayrshire Coastal Path guidebook from their website.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
- Extensive coastal views
- Ailsa Craig
- Interesting coastal geology
- Bennane Hill
- Varyag memorial - built in memory of a Russian battleship which sank 500m off this point in 1920
