Geilsland and Spiers Old School

Start : Car Park, Geilsland Country Estate, Geilsland Road, Beith (KA15 1HD) Grid Ref. NS 354 536 (What3Words: specifies.soft.compose)

(S/E) Starting from the front door of the Geilsland community hall head towards the building in front of the hall and slightly to the left to follow the path. Continue on the path heading straight ahead towards Geilsland Road (South-East).

(1) As you leave Geilsland Estate, at the junction of Geilsland Road, turn right onto the tarmac road being aware of any traffic. Walk straight ahead on the downward slope adjacent to the stone wall until you reach a stone archway on your left.

(2) Turn left to go through the stone archway into Spiers Old School woodland. Take a left turn up a slope and at the top take a right to follow the path. Keep heading straight, bypassing a right-hand junction, the small crossroads and a further two right-hand junctions to follow the path as it curves to the left around a large holly bush.

Carry on along the path as it curves to the left. Bypass both the memorial statue and the next left-hand junction, passing a stone arch on your right. Pass the playing field on your left as you walk through the remnants of an old gate.

(3) At the fork continue right and walk towards the stone wall adjacent to Geilsland Road.

(1) Leave the woodland via a gap in the wall onto Geilsland Road turning right then immediately left back into Geilsland Country Estate. Carry on straight ahead, passing a carpark on your left and a row of housing on your right. Continue on until the junction in front of the old church building and turn right to follow the road.

(4) At the junction turn left and continue past the car park on your right making your way back to the community hall. (S/E)

Start : Car Park, Geilsland Country Estate, Geilsland Road, Beith (KA15 1HD) Grid Ref. NS 354 536 (What3Words: specifies.soft.compose)

Parking: Free parking at Geilsland Community Hall

Transport: The closest train station is Glengarnock approx 3 miles away, with Lochwinnoch 3.5 miles away. The closest bus stop is on Larch Terrace in Beith, approx 0.5 miles away from Geilsland Estate.

Facilities: Onsite are Geilsland Community Hall which is often open and has toilet facilities (contact https://beithtrust.org/contact-us/ for details on opening times) and Mocha Jak's coffee shop which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 4pm (more details can be found here).

Terrain: The site is a flat woodland walk with a combination of tarmac and gravel surfaces with a small section on a country road with no pavements. The paths are often muddy so good footwear is recommended.

Dog policy: Spiers Old School woodland is an excellent site for dog walkers with an off-the-lead policy. The adjacent Geilsland Estate has a close control or on the lead policy due to the number of public events that are held onsite.

Alternative: There are opportunities to extend your walk either into Beith Town Centre or along the active travel route into Barrmill (see here for route details )

There are bird watching opportunities on this walk so bring your binoculars and you might see a nuthatch which are not a common species in the wider area!

Beith Trust has many public events and activities .

North Ayrshire Ranger Service occasionally holds events such as Bat Walks in Spiers Old School Wood.