This route involves some beach walking as well as a pleasant inland stretch on farm tracks across some higher ground. Some very interesting geology can be found on the beach at Kennedy’s Pass as you approach Girvan.
Description
(S) From the Varyag memorial car park, go down onto the beach and head north for approximately 3km.
(1) Keep an eye on the A77 Trunk road: just before it takes a tight bend to the right round a rocky outcrop in the hillside you will see Ayrshire Coastal Path signage at the roadside asking you to cross the A77 and pass through a gate at the other side.
(2) Beyond the gate, a gravel track leads you steeply uphill before becoming grassy and leveling out.
Traverse the hillside North on this high-level old coach road, enjoying the views across the Firth of Clyde.
(3) After 2km, at a farm building and mast keep left (North) at a fork.
For the next 600m the track descends towards A77. Keep heading North East, ignoring two tracks on your left which would take you onto A77.
(4) Towards the bottom of the hill the path disappears slightly to become a set of tractor tracks across some (sometimes muddy) fields (North East).
(5) You will come to a gate with a large stile next to it. Go over the stile then continue North a short distance before turning left at a fork to reach A77.
Cross the road carefully then turn right (North East) and complete the final 3.7km on the (sand, pebble and rocky) beach.
(6) Just beyond Ainslie Manor Nursing Home, you will reach a car park at Ainslie Park on the very southern edge of Girvan where this section ends (E)
Waypoints
- S : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Varyag memorial car park (KA26 0JG)
- 1 : km 2.75 - alt. 6 m - A77 Trunk Road crossing
- 2 : km 2.79 - alt. 14 m - Steep gravel track
- 3 : km 5.03 - alt. 87 m - Farm building and mast
- 4 : km 5.71 - alt. 18 m - Path disappears, becoming tractor tracks
- 5 : km 6.3 - alt. 17 m - Gate and stile
- 6 : km 9.69 - alt. 2 m - Nursing home
- E : km 10.06 - alt. 4 m - Ainslie Park, Girvan
Useful Information
For more information and a route review visit Gillian's Walks
Transport
- Car park at Varyag memorial, Lendalfoot (KA26 0JG) and Ainslie Park, Girvan
- Bus services between Lendalfoot and Girvan
- Train services to/from Girvan
Amenities
Public toilets at Ainslie Park in Girvan as well as food/accommodation
Terrain
A mixture of sand, pebble and rocky beaches, old coach road, gravel tracks and muddy farm tracks. Some steep slopes. One ladder stile.
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
- Varyag memorial - built in memory of a Russian battleship which sank 500m off this point in 1920
- Extensive panoramic coastal views
- Ailsa Craig
- Kennedy's Pass
- Interesting coastal geology
