Byne Hill, Girvan

Summary

Shapely Byne Hill is a familiar landmark when seen from Girvan. Its coastal position ensures that it offers some of the best views in Ayrshire. The descent route given is steep and rocky with minor scrambling, and it raises the route towards Grade 3 - it can be avoided by returning the same way.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Pavement, farm tracks and grassy paths. Steep rocky scrambly terrain on descent route requires care.

Public Transport

Trains and buses to Girvan.

Start

Car park at the south end of Girvan seafront. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.5km / 4 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 220m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NX182963

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (10)

Stage 1

From the car park, which has a snack bar and public toilets, head south - with the sea on your right - following the Ayrshire Coastal Path south along the roadside pavement. There are good views to Ailsa Craig. Just before the Ainslie Manor nursing home fork right onto a grassy path to keep on the seaward side of the building passing Horse Rocks on the foreshore; this can be a little overgrown at times.

Stage 2

Back on the pavement by the main road, turn right for a short distance. Ignore the first road off left (used on the return) and continue across the bridge over Bynehill Burn. Immediately after this cross the road and take the very rough former track opposite - it very potholed and overgrown but goes straight ahead along the left edge of a field. At the far end is a gate and stile - cross this and follow the track as it swings left, and then right uphill. It now continues with a fence on your right.

Stage 3

Continue over two more stiles beside gates, staying on the main track as it climbs steadily, passing an old quarry. After a third gate the track leads to the left of a monument. Once an obelisk, this is now in a very decayed state; it was erected in memory Major Archibald Clifford Blackwell Craufurd by his son, who lived in Ardmillan Castle below this spot.

Stage 4

Continue up the track briefly but before it climbs to the saddle, fork left over the grass towards a wooden gate in the stone wall. Climb or slide the gate to begin the steep ascent towards Byne Hill summit. The going is steep; soon there's a wire fence across the route. There was a stile here which has been dismantled, so you need to step under or over the wire. Continue uphill to reach the summit.

Stage 5

After the rocks a grass path leads to the 214m summit with its superlative views across the Firth of Clyde. On a clear day it's possible to see across to Northern Ireland, with Arran and the Mull of Kintyre closer to hand. The volcanic plug of Ailsa Craig sits about 13km offshore, formed of blue hone granite and a source of curling stones.

Stage 6

The easiest route back is to retrace steps. However, if you have the agility to manage a scrambly descent with rocks, you can continue across the stile and along the grassy ridge. After another stile the faint grassy path rises to a lower summit, but with even better views over Girvan. From here the route descends the very steep northeast ridge. There are a few rocky sections that require great care to descend.

Stage 7

After a final stretch of bracken a gate gives access to a junction of tracks. Don't take the first left hand track, but do bear left here to take the main track towards the farm (not the breakers yard off left). Pass the houses and continue up to meet a minor road, then turn left along this, passing the cemetery. This road emerges back on the A77 at the seafront - cross with care and turn right on the far side to retrace your steps back to the start.

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