Girvan to Maidens

This is a well way-marked route, entirely low-level and passes some of the most iconic sights in the area, including Ailsa Craig and Turnberry Lighthouse. Golf fans will love walking right across the middle of Trump Turnberry Golf Course!

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Ayrshire Coastal Path

Technical sheet

22282053
A South Ayrshire walk posted on 25/05/22 by Gillian's Walks. Last update : 25/05/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.98 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 11 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 14 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐
    District: South Ayrshire 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 55.227979° / W 4.859311°
  • ⚑
    End: N 55.332589° / W 4.822328°

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Turnberry Bay
Girvan Harbour

Description

(S) From Ainslie Park in Girvan head onto the promenade and turn right to walk North.

(1) After 1.8km you will see Girvan Boating Pond and a kids play area on your right. Just beyond there the promenade ends and you should turn right (East) to walk through the harbour car park.

(2) Continue along the edge of the harbour and past the RNLI Girvan Lifeboat Station, reaching a set of steps.

Go up the steps and onto Knockcushan Street. Turn left (East) and at the crossroads turn left again (North) onto Bridge Street.

(3) After 130m at the church turn left (North West) onto a minor road.

(4) Turn left (South West) after only 100m to cross the River Girvan via Newton Kennedy Bridge.

At the crossroads continue straight ahead (West) onto Newton Place, heading towards the shipyard and Coastguard Station.

(5) You will reach some landscaped ground on your right. Follow the footpath around the perimeter of it, the water on your left-hand side, to reach the car park for Girvan Golf Course after 350m.

Turn right (East) here to walk through the car park and onto Golf Course Road.

Turn left (North) then almost immediately right (East) along a residential street to reach a minor road (also called Golf Course Road on the map).

(6) Turn left (North) and continue along this road, which skirts the perimeter of the golf course, for 1km until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn left (North West) then left again (North) after 200m to walk through Girvan Mains Farm.

(8) The next section is along a good farm track running parallel to the coast. About 1km along, shortly after passing the Girvan Waste Water Treatment Plant, the road begins to turn inland and a wooden marker post directs walkers left (North) onto the beach along a grass verge.

(9) After passing in front of the cottages at Curragh, you can either continue along the beach if the tide allows, or walk along the edge of the field, entering and exiting the field via kissing gates at each end. Return onto the beach once out of the field.

(10) 1km beyond Curragh Cottages you will reach Dipple Burn. If the tide and depth of the burn allow, cross it and continue North on the beach. If the burn is not passable, turn right (East) along a track to reach the A77 Trunk Road. Turn left (North) to follow a wide grassy verge behind the DuPont building to a stile. Cross the stile to enter a field and walk around the field edges, eventually returning to the beach. This short tidal de-tour is fully way-marked.

(11) Continue North along the sandy beach for approx 1.7km at which point look out for an obvious set of wooden steps built into the sand dunes on your right-hand side. This short inland de-tour takes you around the upcoming Milton Burn and back onto the beach just beyond. If there is a very low tide you may be able to continue along the beach instead of taking the steps.

Continue North on the sandy beach for 1.3km, Turnberry Lighthouse visible ahead.

(12) On reaching a rocky outcrop at the north end of the bay, turn inland and follow the Ayrshire Coastal Path way-markers North then East across Turnberry Golf Course and out onto the A719.

(13) Turn left (North) at A719 to walk along the roadside pavement for 1.2km to reach Maidens.

(14) Just past Maidens Primary School, turn left (West) onto Harbour Road where the walk ends at the car park at Maidens Harbour, 100m along (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Ainslie Park, Girvan
  2. 1 : km 1.85 - alt. 0 m - End of Girvan Promenade
  3. 2 : km 2.29 - alt. 8 m - Steps
  4. 3 : km 2.47 - alt. 6 m - Church
  5. 4 : km 2.58 - alt. 5 m - Newton Kennedy Bridge
  6. 5 : km 3.11 - alt. 6 m - Girvan Golf Course car park
  7. 6 : km 4.3 - alt. 10 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 4.57 - alt. 12 m - Girvan Mains Farm
  9. 8 : km 5.87 - alt. 4 m - Road turns inland - continue along grass verge
  10. 9 : km 7.27 - alt. 4 m - Curragh Cottages
  11. 10 : km 8.26 - alt. 4 m - Dipple Burn high tide de-tour
  12. 11 : km 11.58 - alt. 1 m - Milton Burn high tide de-tour - wooden steps
  13. 12 : km 13.33 - alt. 4 m - Rocky outcrop at north end of bay
  14. 13 : km 14.61 - alt. 10 m - A719
  15. 14 : km 15.82 - alt. 5 m - Harbour Road
  16. E : km 15.97 - alt. 3 m - Maidens Harbour

Useful Information

For more information and a route review visit Gillian's Walks

Transport

  • Car park at Ainslie Park, Girvan and at Maidens Harbour
  • Bus services between Girvan and Maidens
  • Train services to/from Girvan

Amenities

  • Public toilets at Ainslie Park in Girvan and at Maidens Harbour
  • Cafes and shops in Girvan and Maidens, tearoom at Balkenna approx halfway along route

Terrain
A mixture of surfaced promenade and minor roads, grassy paths, sandy beaches and field crossings (possibly muddy). Several stiles and kissing gates especially if following the tidal de-tours. Several sets of steps.

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

Ailsa Craig
Isle of Arran
RNLI Girvan Lifeboat Station
Girvan Coastguard Station
Fields of Ayrshire tatties (springtime)
Grant's Whisky Distillery
Turnberry Lighthouse
Trump Turnberry Golf Course
Turnberry Castle - birthplace of Robert the Bruce
Maidens Harbour

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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