Dunure to Ayr

This is an incredible walk along one of the most rugged sections of the Ayrshire Coast. You will experience varied terrain including beaches, rocky outcrops, grassy farmland and a disused railway. Prepare yourself for stunning views and a unique sense of remoteness.

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

Technical sheet

22392390
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 88 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 92 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 60 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Start by walking around the edge of Dunure harbour and across the village’s sandy beach.

(1) At the north end of the beach you will see a gap in the rocks - follow this to a gate.

For the next section look out for large white painted circles on the rocks showing you the way. Follow a faint desire line up onto a grassy foreshore, weaving in and out of the hillside to eventually arrive at a kissing gate.

Beyond the kissing gate the trail takes you through some gorse and across the clifftops.

(2) You'll arrive at a dry stone wall with a stile followed by a small footbridge over Ladywell Burn.

After going down a small gully you will emerge onto a pebble and sandy bay, with Drumbain Waterfall just around the bend. You need to ford the Drumbain Burn which spills out onto the beach - care required when in spate.

(3) At the far end of the bay look for a large white arrow painted onto a rock, indicating where you should begin heading uphill by way of some steps built into the steep Fisherton Gully.

At the top of the gully go through a kissing gate onto a field.

Follow a desire line across the field to another kissing gate and into a second field. At the other side of this field is a kissing gate leading onto a disused railway line.

(4) Walk along the disused railway line for 1km, enjoying spectacular views down onto Bracken Bay where you are headed next.

(5) When you reach Heads of Ayr Caravan Park, follow the track along the edge of a field with a row of caravans on your right-hand side.

On reaching some farm tracks, turn left (North) to follow them between two fields.

(6) Keep left (West) at a fork 200m along, going through a kissing gate then descending to Bracken Bay.

(7) Turn right (North East) to walk along the beach. As you reach the north end 500m along, you will go around a rocky outcrop called Heads of Ayr. Note that for 2 hours either side of a high tide this section will be impassable.

(8) Follow the coastline for 3km, passing beneath Craig Tara Holiday Park and arriving at the foot of Greenan Castle.

(9) 1km further along the beach, shortly after passing a large pipe outflow, look out for an Ayrshire Coastal Path marker post on the edge of the dunes to your right (if you go as far as the River Doon, you've gone too far!) Come off the beach here to walk through the dunes to a car park.

(10) Turn left to walk through the car park and cross the footbridge over the River Doon.

After crossing the bridge, continue ahead (North), to follow Ayr Esplanade for 1km to reach the car park at Seafield, just opposite Cafe India. Or continue into Ayr for onwards travel by bus/train. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Dunure Harbour
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 2 m - Gap in rocks, north end of Dunure Beach
  3. 2 : km 1.36 - alt. 7 m - Stile and small footbridge
  4. 3 : km 2.69 - alt. 31 m - Fisherton Gully steps
  5. 4 : km 3.22 - alt. 60 m - Disused railway line
  6. 5 : km 4.18 - alt. 39 m - Caravan Park
  7. 6 : km 4.8 - alt. 9 m - Bracken Bay
  8. 7 : km 5.47 - alt. 4 m - Heads of Ayr
  9. 8 : km 8.53 - alt. 9 m - Greenan Castle
  10. 9 : km 9.6 - alt. 2 m - Car Park
  11. 10 : km 9.82 - alt. 3 m - Footbridge over the River Doon
  12. E : km 11.24 - alt. 2 m - Seafield, Ayr

Practical information

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

Transport

  • Car park at Kennedy Park, Dunure (chargeable, seasonal) and at Seafield, Ayr
  • Bus services between Dunure and Ayr
  • Train services to/from Ayr

Amenities

  • Public toilets at Kennedy Park, Dunure (chargeable, seasonal) and at Low green, Ayr (chargeable)
  • Cafe at Dunure Harbour. Cafes, shops and restaurants in Ayr

Terrain

  • A challenging mixture of grassy paths, sandy beaches, rocky beaches, farm tracks and field crossings. A stile and several kissing gates. One set of steps. A strenuous walk with some steep sections.
  • Note that there is one tidal section with no high tide de-tour. Please check tide times before setting off and leave 1-2hrs either side of a high tide to ensure dry passage.
  • Instead of way markers, this route is marked out by large white circles painted onto the rocks so keep an eye out for those

You can purchase the official Ayrshire Coastal Path guidebook from their website.

In the nearby area

  • Kennedy Park, Dunure (kids play area, basketball/football pitch, public toilets)
  • Dunure Castle - once the main fortress of the Kennedy family, a ruin for the past 300 years
  • Dovecot
  • Limekiln
  • Dunure Harbour
  • Fisherton Gully
  • Bracken Bay
  • Heads of Ayr
  • Heads of Ayr Caravan Park
  • Greenan Castle - 16th century tower house
  • River Doon

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

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