An excellent circuit over the hills overlooking one of Scotland's favourite villages, located in what is known as Ayrshire's 'Rambling Territory'.
Grass and earth footpaths in fields, open grazing land (livestock) and woods, and surfaced road. Some parts can be very muddy.
Bus to Straiton.
Car park alongside the playing field, Straiton.
In common with most of the waymarked walks in Ayrshire, there is an information board in the car park indicating a selection of walks in the area. This walk must surely be the finest, offering panoramic views over the village and surrounding countryside. From the car park return to the road and turn right, crossing the burn via a separate wooden footbridge to pass 16th century St Cuthbert's Church with colourful stained-glass windows and a crow-stepped gable. Enter the village and continue along the pavement passing McCandlish Hall and The Black Bull Hotel. Straiton was created by Thomas Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis as a model village in the mid-18th century, with a wide main street and single storey cottages that focuses attention on the war memorial at the far end. Head towards this and continue out the other end of the village towards Newton Stewart.
There is a former toll cottage strategically placed at the start of the Newton Stewart Hill Road and behind it an elegant 18th century manse. Just beyond the school is a gate offering access to farmland and the path to Traboyack Wood. Follow the grass path through the field to reach a gate in the field boundary into the wood. Head up this and through the shady woodland to reach a ladder stile over a drystane dyke. Cross this and begin the steep ascent up Craigengower (Hill of the Goats in Gaelic) towards the summit obelisk.
This impressive structure is a monument to Lt. Col. James Hunter Blair, mortally wounded at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854. After the steep ascent the views offer the perfect excuse for a lingering break, especially on a clear day when Ben Lomond, Arran and Ailsa Craig may be visible. From the summit follow the wooden waymarkers south across the bleak grassy moorland before dropping down to the road north of Craig. Cross the road and head through the field along the path running roughly parallel to the river and up to the road bridge below Craigifad. This section of path can be quite overgrown depending upon the season and recent footfall.
Turn right at the bridge along the minor road before branching right as the main road turns sharply left. A grassy path leads onwards towards Curroch Wood; follow this, passing through a gate and take the left fork where indicated by a wooden waymarker post. This path narrows very pleasant as it heads into the woods, offering views of primroses and violets as well as long-tailed tits, red squirrels, deer and badgers. Pass through another gate to leave the native woodland and enter the felled plantation of Bennan Wood. Here there is a junction of tracks. A sign for Bennan Hill indicates the left track - a detour for more aerial views. To do this, head up the track then take a left onto a narrow path, which soon climbs steeply to the right. Eventually it reveals great views over Straiton. Retrace your steps back down the steep path, then right at the track and then left when you rejoin the original route.
Follow the track which eventually swings right in a field to turn towards Bennan Farm. Pass through a gate and ignore a footpath off to the right, instead meeting a tarred lane at the farm. Go left along this road, looking out for a footpath on the right. Take this path, heading across two footbridges and finally crossing a field to return to Straiton village. The car park is just to the left.
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