An easy circuit of the woods and meadows of the Irvine Valley.
Good earth and grass footpaths and surfaced road.
Bus to Galston; nearest rail station is Kilmarnock.
Car park by Barr Castle, Galston.
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This pleasant circuit begins from the public car park opposite the stronghold of Barr Castle - formerly known as Lockhart's Tower - in the town of Galston. The whole Irvine Valley has historic links to William Wallace, and Barr Castle was reputed to have housed Wallace and his men as they ran from English troops. Wallace invented a kind of handball game played against the castle walls in order to keep his men fit, and this unique game was played in the area until the mid 20th century. The castle has had various uses throughout the years ranging from a jail to a wood store, but is currently under the care of the local masonic lodge.
Leave the car park and turn right to reach a bridge over Burn Anne, then turn left onto Cemetery Road. Follow this quiet road through a residential area, unsurprisingly passing the cemetery before recrossing the burn and bearing left to reach the B7037 road towards Sorn. Cross this and turn right along the pavement as directed by the obvious blue signs. Before reaching the small bridge head through a wooden kissing gate on the left to enter Burnhouse Brae Wood. Follow the earth path initially corralled between two fences before the path opens out in the cool woodland and begins to ascend high above Burn Anne.
Occasionally offering glimpses of Irvine Valley farmland the path generally remains in the woodland before switchbacking down to a minor road. Turn right to cross the burn again and take the path on the left after the bridge. This path continues through the woods beneath Cessnock Castle, which dates from the 15th century and was a stronghold of the Campbells before being converted to the mansion house seen today. Keep right at a path fork before descending down to the burn at a wooden footbridge. Cross this and turn right on the far side. The path will eventually reach a surfaced minor road via a gate; pass through this and turn right along the road for a short distance. On the left, just past a small layby or passing place, is an obvious blue direction arrow and carved wooden sign indicating the continuation of the route. Go through the kissing gate and onto the narrow grassy path which is quite overgrown at time of writing. This path meanders through a series of meadows, sometimes close to the burn and otherwise high above at the field boundary. At path junctions take either fork - the paths will rejoin later. There are several picnic areas with dilapidated wooden tables and a general feeling of nature reasserting dominance over the efforts of man.
This feeling is reinforced by the wildlife that can be observed on this section of the walk, including deer, fox, owls, ravens, hawks and other birds. There are interpretation boards offering flora and fauna identification guides later on the route. When an obvious path junction is reached at some carved wooden signs continue on the main path (the left fork) to follow the path of the burn. The alternative route passes the East Threepwood historical site where Covenanter James Smith was shot by the prolific Covenanter persecutor John 'Bluidy Clavers' Graham of Claverhouse. The main route continues to follow the course of the burn before curving right and uphill to Target Wood, but not before offering panoramic views across the county to Arran beyond. On a clear day the bulk of Ben Lomond can be discerned on the horizon.
Follow the path through the open woodland to reach a minor road. Turn right and continue to enjoy the views as the road heads downhill towards Threepwood Farm. There is a signed detour on the left which promises a route to Fairy Dell - at the time of writing the vegetation and field boundaries were such that this route is practically impassable. Continue along the quiet road through the farm to reach a road just before Sornhill heading right and marked with a blue signpost. Follow this towards the woodland encountered on the outward route and enter via a kissing gate. The path beyond threads a familiar path through the trees to emerge by the wooden footbridge over the burn. From this point retrace the outward route back to Barr Castle.
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