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Walking in
Ayrshire - Seven walks for seven days
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Whether it's enjoying a
gentle country stroll, a breezy coastal walk, trekking long
distance routes or scrambling among hills and mountains,
Doonbank Cottage is situated in the heart of some easy to
reach and fabulous walks, to suit every level of
experience.
The surrounding area
includes many ranges of hills over 600m (2,000 feet), in
which several summits qualify as Corbetts - hills over 762m
(2,500 feet), while walks in the immediate vicinity
include:
Below, we have suggested
seven walks in the local area, and you can use the links
below to find
your perfect walk,
suitable for novices, experienced walkers, family outings
and dog walkers.
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Day
one
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Day
two
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Day
three
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Day
four
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Straiton
Patna Hill Track
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Laggan
Walk, Girvan
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Cock
of Arran
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Alloway
- Culroy - Brown Carrick Hill - Genoch Farm -
Alloway
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Approximately 30 mins
drive from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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8.4 km/ 5.25
miles
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03:00
(hrs:mins)
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200
metres
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Explorer 326: Ayr
& Troon
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This walk follows an old
coal and drove road on open moor and through coniferous
forest,
An ancient route, it
offers extensive views across Ayrshire and the chance to
observe moorland birds and mammals. Care should be taken in
bad weather.
It should only be tackled
by the well equipped an experienced walker.
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Approximately 38 mins
drive from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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7 kms / 4.4
miles
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03:00
(hrs:mins)
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250
metres
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Explorer 317:
Ballantrae, Barr and Barrhill
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Ailsa Craig, a 1000ft volcanic plug whose
sides rise almost vertically from the Firth of Clyde 10
miles off of the Ayrshire coast, is the dominant feature on
the horizon.
This lovely walk, which crosses the high
ground between the coast and the Assel and Stinchar valleys,
also takes you to Laggan Loch, an almost perfectly circular
body of water, which is the subject of a fascinating local
legend.
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Approximately
40mins.drive to Ardrossan. Take ferry
to Arran.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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12 Kms/ 7.5
miles
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04:00
(hrs:mins)
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40
metres
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Explorer 361:
Isle of Arran
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Walking through a great variety of
terrains this walk takes in the wonderful views over the sea
to the north, and the Arran mountains to the south.
Following the coast along beaches and
below cliffs, the highlights of the walk are the caves in
the cliffs above you at several points and the spectacular
ruin of Lochranza Castle. The route finishes at
Sannox.
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Approximately 3 mins
drive, 10 mins walk from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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20 Kms / 12.5
miles
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06:00
(hrs:mins)
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197
metres
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Explorer 326: Ayr
& Troon
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An enjoyable circular walk from Alloway
to the top of the Carrick Hills (Brown Carrick), which all
takes place on metalled roads/tracks. Starting at the Tam
O'Shanter Experience, the walk takes you through some of
Ayrshire's country lanes past the grounds of Newark Castle
and up to the top of the Carrick Hills (Brown Carrick). On a
clear day the views up the Firth of Clyde are spectacular.
The return route takes you down towards the coast, then
along past the old Butlin's site (still a holiday camp).
Finally you return via the Burns Monument, close to the Auld
Brig famed in the poem 'Tam O'Shanter' by Robert
Burns.
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Day
five
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Day
six
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Day
seven
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The
Prophet's Grave, Largs
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The
Devil's Trail, Barr
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Girvan
to Barr Hill Path
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Approximately 55 mins
drive from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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9.6 km/ 6
miles
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03:00
(hrs:mins)
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40
metres
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Explorer 341:
Greenock, Largs & Millport
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Follow the North Promenade into a small
wood road. Turn right and keep to the left until you reach
the Noddleburn, follow the path leading you into Brisbane
Glen. Follow route through the glen till a gate between
fields on the left where a short path takes you to the Grave
of William Smith, Minister of Largs in 1647. Return by the
same route.
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Approximately 50 mins
drive from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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6.4 km/ 4
miles
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02:30
(hrs:mins)
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125
metres
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Explorer 317:
Ballantrae, Barr & Barrhill
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Attractive woodland walk, at first
following the Water of Gregg, then a steady climb resulting
in beautifull views of the Stinchar Valley and hills
beyond.
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Approximately 35 mins
drive from the cottage.
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Distance
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Approximate
Time
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Height
Gain
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OS Map
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10 km/ 6.25
miles
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03:00
(hrs:mins)
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260
metres
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Explorer 317:
Ballantrae, Barr and Barrhill
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Initially the path follows the route to
the Dow Hill and Laggan Loch. Past the loch the track
separates and drops down to the ruins of a farm. It then
leads up over Auchensol Hill (320m), giving fine views over
the valley. Path emerges onto Old Dailly to Barr road, going
over the old bridge to enter Barr.
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Find
your perfect walk
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The Walking
Scotland website
has over 1,000 route options divided into four categories,
you're sure to find a suitable walk here.
The Ayrshire
Paths initiative
provides well sign-posted routes for all capabilities of
walker.Routes include Ayr, Irvine, Muirkirk, Largs, Dailly,
Dalry, Irvine Valley, Girvan, Straiton, Barr, Dalmellington
and Cumbrae.
The River
Ayr Way is a
waymarked 66km route from Glenbuck near Muirkirk, to sea (at
Ayr) which takes in some of Ayrshire's most stunning
scenery. Whilst walking the River Ayr Way, look out for a
huge variety of wildlife including otters, heron, buzzards,
oyster catchers, hen harriers and deer. The route also
allows visitors to discover more about William Wallace,
Alexander Peden, Robert Burns and David Dale..
Walkingworld
gives a list of walks in Ayrshire and Arran, showing the
walk title, grade, walk length and type of natural area in
which it is found.
..........and don't forget
you also have miles of coastline within minutes of the
cottage!
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[c] Doonbank Cottage
