Ardrossan to Portencross

Plenty of beach-walking on this one, with options to use earth footpaths instead should you wish. With Portencross being the closest point on the mainland to the Isle of Arran, you have the potential for some incredible views across the Firth of Clyde.

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

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 4 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 3 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Facing Ardrossan Harbour, turn right (North East) to walk round the edge of the harbour.

(1) At the end of the terraced apartments, continue ahead (West) around a grassy mound with some sculptures on it, circling back on yourself at the other side.

Continue along Mariner's View, turning left along Montgomerie Street and onto North Crescent Road. This is a temporary de-tour whilst development work takes place at Ardrossan North Shore. 

(2) Choose a suitable place beyond the rocky embankment to drop down onto the beach at Ardrossan North Bay.

(3) For this next section stay on the sandy beach all the way to The Waterside restaurant and Caravan Park - 4km.

(4) Just beyond The Waterside, Ayrshire Coastal Path marker posts lead you onto a sandy and grassy path to avoid a rocky area of coastline.

(5) At Seamill, cross a footbridge over the Kilbride Burn and resume along the beach for 500m, passing behind the Seamill Hydro Hotel.

(6) At the southern end of West Kilbride Golf Course, come off the beach onto a high-level footpath which goes around Ardneil Bay (or continue along the beach if you prefer) for 1.8km.

(7) As you reach the north end of Ardneil Bay, there is a short walk across the pink sand and pebble beach to reach a kissing gate which leads onto a field.

(8) Follow a rough path across the seaward edge of the field to a second kissing gate.

(E) Go through the kissing gate - you are now in Portencross car park.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 2 m - Ardrossan Harbour
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 0 m - Grassy mound with sculptures on it
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 2 m - North Bay - go down onto the beach
  4. 3 : km 5.63 - alt. 5 m - The Waterside restaurant and Caravan Park
  5. 4 : km 5.79 - alt. 2 m - ACP marker posts direct you away from beach
  6. 5 : km 7.09 - alt. 5 m - Footbridge over Kilbride Burn
  7. 6 : km 7.67 - alt. 4 m - Start of Ardneil Bay path
  8. 7 : km 9.96 - alt. 4 m - Kissing gate
  9. 8 : km 10.04 - alt. 2 m - Field-edge path
  10. E : km 10.36 - alt. 3 m - Portencross car park

Practical information

In the nearby area

  • Ardrossan Harbour
  • Views to the Isle of Arran
  • Cal Mac ferry to Arran
  • Sandy bays of Ardrossan North, Seamill and Ardneil
  • The Waterside restaurant - on the route
  • Seamill Hydro Hotel, restaurant and spa
  • West Kilbride Golf Course
  • Portencross Castle

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.