Ayrshire Coastal Path 2: Ballantrae to Lendalfoot

The second stage of the Ayrshire Coastal Path follows the sandy and rocky shoreline before running alongside the busy A77.

Terrain

Surfaced roads, sandy beaches and grassy roadside verges.

Public Transport

Both Ballantrae and Lendalfoot are served by regular buses along the A77.

Start

Ballantrae. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

From the car park at the southern end of Ballantrae head north along the sandy beach to reach the small protected harbour at The Foreland. Dating from 1846, the harbour was once a thriving herring port until larger modern fishing boats outgrew it and herring stocks declined. Head down a small slip and onto the beach - the firm sand makes this an easy three kilometres with Ailsa Craig a constant companion on the horizon as the waypoint of Bennane Head draws nearer.

Stage 2

Turn inland at a stream beneath the two cottages that form Bennane Lea. The route now follows a temporary diversion due to cliff falls. Turn right to climb up towards the busy A77 road. Follow the Ayrshire Coastal Path waymarkers to walk along the verge of the East side of the road. This temporary route replaces a lovely section that used to run on the old disused A77 raround the seaward side of Bennane Head. This used to pass a small cairn erected in memory of Henry Ewing Torbert (or 'Snib') - a hermit that spent many years living in nearby Bennane Cave until his death in 1983 at the age of 71. The walled cave still exists and penetrates deep into the hillside. Eventually you reach a car park and viewpoint overlooking Balcreuchan Port and Sawney Bean's Cave - home to a fictitious family of cannibals purported to devour travellers along the Carrick coast in the 16th Century.

Stage 3

From the car park the route continues alongside the A77, with a narrow grassy path between the fence and the seaward side of the crash barrier. Thankfully this corralling ends after another 1.5 kilometres at Bennane Caravan Park and it is possible to either walk along the shore or the narrow asphalt pavement. A pretty group of wooden houses comes into view with the marginally larger settlement of Lendalfoot beyond, providing an almost Scandinavian scene nestled amongst the volcanic rock outcrops.

Stage 4

South of Carleton Bay is a well-maintained picnic area housing a magnificent bronze memorial to the memory of the Imperial Russian battle-cruiser Varyag, which sank 500m offshore of this point whilst being towed south for scrap in 1920. Thanks to heroism displayed in an epic battle in the Russo-Japanese war in 1904, Varyag holds legendary status amongst Russians, and the unveiling of the monument was televised live throughout Russia. Passing the memorial the route continues past a row of fishermen's cottages, several tiny slips and breakwaters to reach an old black fisherman's hut almost built into the rocks. A few hundred metres landward of the A77 stands the ruins of Carleton Castle, the ancestral home of the Cathcarts, allies of the feared Kennedy family that once ruled over Carrick.

Stage 5

Lendalfoot offers little in the way of facilities other than a phonebox, but the regular coastal bus service stops here when hailed and allows for swift onward transport.

Route: Phil Turner

Next stage: Lendalfoot to Girvan

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