This circular walk explores the Ardwell Estate on mostly woodland paths from the coast, passing the attractive Ardwell Pond. Chance to visit the walled gardens in summer (charge).
Woodland and parkland paths; can be muddy in places.
None to start.
Car park at Chapel Rossan Bay, Ardwell.
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There is a signed car park and picnic area, complete with toilets, on Chapel Rossan Bay at the southern end of Ardwell. From here there are great views across the wide expanse of Luce Bay towards the Machars. Begin the walk by heading out of the car park back to the main road, head right and cross to take the signed footpath opposite.
The path winds through the trees beside the burn before reaching a metal bridge at the foot of a once-ornamental salmon ladder. Turn right here and cross the bridge to pick up a path which mostly follows a wooded embankment. The route - which is intermittently waymarked - crosses a couple of wooden footbridges. It eventually swings left and comes close to a minor road. Go through a gate and straight across a track to continue on the path. Cross grass to pick up the drive for Ardwell House (bench on right) head left on this for a very short time and look out for an, easy to miss, path on the right which heads back into the trees.
The path continues ahead, crossing over two more tracks, before reaching a path junction (gate and church up on right ahead) turn left here and at the next path junction bear left to very shortly reach a gravel track. Turn right here heading towards a cottage, pass the cottage and continue ahead keeping the walled garden wall on your right. Soon the entrance to the garden is reached. It can be visited in summer - there is a charge. Continue alongside the wall, passing a toilet and old potting sheds. Continue on the track and a short distance after the garden wall is left behind look out for a slightly hidden path just off a grassy track on the right signed 'Walk Around Pond'.
Take this path which leads through more woodland and eventually crosses a footbridge. Go left on the far side as the route now comes alongside the Ardwell Pond. This very attractive sheet of water is fringed by wildflowers and often has swans and moorhens in residence.
Continue beside the pond, eventually reaching the top of the salmon ladder seen earlier. The zig-zag stones in the bed are to enable the salmon to rest between their bouts of forcing their way up the slope. Head down next to it and continue straight ahead to retrace the outward route back to the start.
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