Culzean Castle Country Park, from Maidens

Summary

This enjoyable walk from Maidens sets out along the coast to visit the Culzean Castle Country Park. The route has a bit of everything - beach, fine woodlands, sea views, attractive lochs and a truly spectacular stately castle. The grounds are free to enter from Maidens but you would need to buy a ticket to visit the castle itself, or a grounds ticket for a more extended visit to the gardens.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Beach, then varied clear paths, can be muddy in one or two spots. Short tidal section on rocky shore can be avoided.

Getting there

Start

Seafront car park at north end of Maidens.

Public Transport

Bus to Maidens.

Start Grid Ref

NS217083

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 9km / 5.5 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours
Ascent: 116m (Profile)

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Explorer 326 - Ayr

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

The walk starts from the beach car park towards the north end of the coastal village of Maidens. Begin by heading down onto the sandy beach and turning right to walk north along it. When a small burn is reached flowing out across the sands turn right alongside it to reach and cross a footbridge. On the far side turn right again - following the Ayrshire Coastal Path at this point. Turn left at a fork to head into the Culzean Castle Country Park. When a gateway is reached follow the path to the left to go through a pedestrian gate, then turn left onto a narrower but clear path through the trees.

Stage 2

Bear left at a fork to reach a more open area, soon onto a wooden boardwalk. Steps come up from the beach here, but our route turns right up the wooden steps to the clifftop, then left at the top. The path now leads through the woods; go left at a fork. The narrow but good path reaches more open ground with superb coastal views - at one point there is an optional detour to a viewpoint / spot for a rest off to the left. Eventually the path re-enters the trees. Head through the woods, ignoring a path down to the shore off to the left, and a path to the Pavilion building off to the right.

Stage 3

Instead the path reaches the edge of the beautiful Swan Pond. You can detour to the right here to visit the old aviary building which serves coffees and ice cream in the summer; otherwise, turn left. At each of two forks take the left branch - signed 'Cliff walk' on each occasion.

Stage 4

The walk now continues on a very attractive path along the fringe between the woods and the coastal cliffs - there are a couple of well-placed benches. When a junction is reached keep left once more to stay nearest the coast, and eventually turn left onto a surfaced path. Soon another junction is reached - unless the tide is high or you are unsure of footing on rocky shorelines, take the left branch to reach the old powder house (where canonballs were kept). The path swings right but soon turn left again to head down a ramp and steps to the shoreline.

Stage 5

The shore is rocky and requires a little more agility - and this section is impassable at highest tide (in which case you can follow the main path from before the powder house to remain on the clifftops and rejoin the route at the castle). Head to the right along the beach, passing the old laundry house, and then reaching the wooden boathouse almost directly below the castle seen above. Take a path to the right of the boathouse, soon leading up steps and reaching the battery where canons once defended the castle. Above the battery cross a lawn to a gap in the wall, here the main clifftop route is rejoined.

Stage 6

Turn left to follow the path past the Orangery and along the back of Culzean Castle. Once a more modest medieval affair, the castle was converted and extended to its present grandeur by the architect Robert Adam - and is considered his last great masterpiece. The Castle (and gardens) are owned by the National Trust for Scotland and it is well worth paying to make a full visit. Continuing the walk, follow the lower path below the castle, with the lawned gardens and fountain on your right. At the far end of the lawn bear right to pass through an arch beneath the formal entrance driveway. Continue ahead towards a battlemented wall; from here you could detour to the left down to visit the old gassworks on the shore. Otherwise, bear right alongside the wall to follow the pathway uphill.

Stage 7

The path soon leads to a complex of buildings that now make up the Country Park Visitor Centre; you can head into the courtyard if you want to visit the cafe or shop; otherwise turn sharp right before reaching the steadings to take a path back towards the castle but on the other side of a hedge - keeping to the right of the bookshop. The path winds through the trees, reaching a junction at the 'ruined' archway that provided a romantic approach to the castle. Don't pass through this - keep left of it onto a tarred lane, but then take a path up onto the ridge on the right, and then left along this to reach the Camelia House.

Stage 8

Pass the Camelia House, keeping straight ahead to reach the edge of the walled gardens. These can be visited, but the walk continues by turning left onto the tarred road and follow this as it curves left, leading past a car park. Just past this turn right onto a path that heads uphill between two fences (very occasionally this path is closed, in which case you should head to the right of the deer park on Sunnyside Road to rejoin the route on the tarred road mentioned below). On the right is the deer park - red deer can usually be seen, whilst on the left the paddock usually has resident alpacas. Eventually the path reaches the old firepond - now quite overgrown. Walk around this to the right, following the path as it swings back left around the far side. Here turn right to soon reach a track - turn right along this. Ignore a track off left, keeping ahead until a tarred lane is reached - turn left onto this.

Stage 9

The lane reaches a group of estate cottages; keep left of this, then turning right at the garage to pass along the side of the furthest cottage. Keep left on a rough track at the end of the gardens, following this when it curves right - note the ruins of the old mill off to the right here. Keep along the route until a chain just before a railway bridge; turn right onto a path immediately before the chain. The path continues through the woods, eventually reaching another track. Turn right here, passing through the Cat Gates - once an important gateway for the estate. Follow the main track as it curves right (ignoring a muddier one coming in from the left), then take the next made path on the left. Stay on the main path, with views to a group of small lochans. Ignore a track off to the right, passing an otter sculpture. Eventually the path reaches the main, Ayrshire Coast Path track. Turn left along this, rejoining the outward route at the entrance to the country park. From here retrace your steps back along the coast path to the beach and return to Maidens.

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