This walk is part of the trek Ayrshire Coastal Path.
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.
(D) 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 (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 3m - Varyag memorial car park (KA26 0JG)
1 : km 2.75 - alt. 6m - A77 Trunk Road crossing
2 : km 2.79 - alt. 14m - Steep gravel track
3 : km 5.03 - alt. 87m - Farm building and mast
4 : km 5.71 - alt. 18m - Path disappears, becoming tractor tracks
5 : km 6.3 - alt. 17m - Gate and stile
6 : km 9.69 - alt. 2m - Nursing home
A : km 10.06 - alt. 4m - Ainslie Park, Girvan
For more information and a route review visit Gillian's Walks
Transport
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.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
This route follows the sand, shingle and pebble beach from Ballantrae harbour along to Bennane Hill at which point it heads inland to follow the A77 down to Lendalfoot.
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!
Entirely inland, this route is very peaceful and offers easy walking. Initially across hilly moorland the path then winds its way down to the village of Ballantrae following farm tracks and quiet country roads. The views on a clear day are simply stunning.
One of Scotland’s Great Trails, the Ayrshire Coastal Path runs 100 miles between Glenapp in the South and Skelmorlie in the North. It is a perfect mix of inland and on-beach sections which keeps things varied and interesting. With either Ailsa Craig or Isle of Arran as your companion for the vast majority of the way, there is always some stunning scenery to gaze out at (if you get the weather!) From golden sandy beaches to rugged rocky shorelines, Ayrshire has it all!
Beautifully scenic forestry tracks take you along to Kirstie’s Cairn, a memorial to young local farmer Christopher McTaggart who lost his life there in a blizzard in 1913.
A stunning circular route through the idylic South Ayrshire countryside, the Fairy Knowe Trail is most definitely one of Scotland’s hidden gems. The walk follows a variety of forest tracks, mossy tree corridors, and hillside footpaths to reach a viewpoint known as the Fairy Knowe. After a short but steep descent, the track returns to the start following the course of the Water of Gregg.
Enjoy the clifftop views of the more rugged sections of coastline around Culzean Castle & Country Park and the fields just south of Dunure. You will even pass directly in front of the incredible 18th century Culzean Castle, as well as the remains of Dunure Castle – which dates back as far as the 1200s!
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.