Category Archives: Ayrshire

Ayrshire Coastal Path: 6 – Sandblown beaches, a Brig o’ Doon and Ayr’s Esplanade

9.12 miles 4h 58m ascent 109m Dunure Harbour-The River Ayr Yonder are the heights of Arran towering from the glistening bay; nearer are the Heads of Ayr, and the old Castle of Greenan standing out on the verge of the wave. A … Continue reading

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 5 – castles, cephalopods and country parks

6.99 miles 3h 37min ascent 208m Maidens-Dunure Be ye Man – or Bairn – or Wumman, Be ye gaun – or be ye comin,For Scotland’s Pride – no Scotland’s shame,Gether yer litter – an tak it Hame! The Ayrshire Coastal … Continue reading

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 4 – beaches, burns and bull pens

8.24 miles 4h 46min ascent 68m Girvan Mains – Maidens Much of the 8.24-mile journey from Girvan Mains to Maidens is actual beach walking and offers ample time to soak in the beauty of the Ayrshire coast, with its dramatic cliffs, secluded … Continue reading

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 3 – a very British picnic

7.58 miles 3h 55m ascent 153m Lendalfoot-Girvan Mains Many years ago, a small island was discovered off the south west coast of Scotland by a group of fairies who were on their way to the mainland. The fairies were blown … Continue reading

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 2 – beaches, barriers and braying bovines

7.18 miles 3h 19m ascent 118m Ballantrae-Lendalfoot Trudge: V. (intr) to walk laboriously, wearily or without spirit but steadily and persistently (Orig. obsc) The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary This word accompanied my thoughts as I walked, and re-appeared as I … Continue reading

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Ayrshire Coastal Path: 1 – fairy foxgloves and standing stones

9.54 miles 4h 21m ascent 209m Glen App Kirk- Ballantrae Behind yon hills where Stinsiar flows,‘Mang moors an’ mosses many, O Robert Burns This was our first section of the Ayrshire Coastal Way, taking us from Glen App Kirk over … Continue reading

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Mull of Galloway Trail: 5 – moorland, laight, and stane

7.50 miles 4h 25m ascent 310m Cairnryan-Glenapp-Finnart’s Bay The final leg of the Mull of Galloway Trail took us along the Loch Ryan Coastal Path to Glenapp and from there we walked on to Finnarts Bay. The name Glenapp might … Continue reading

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River Ayr Way: 5 – Farewell to the Banks of Ayr

8.19 miles 3h 55m 113m ascent River Ayr Way: Tarholm-Ayr This, our final stage of our River Ayr Way, brought us to the coast. It was a relatively short walk, mostly on riverside paths, but with some mud near the … Continue reading

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