This enjoyable country circular walk climbs from Darvel to give good views over the Irvine Valley. The return is through the verdant Lanfine Estate - where wild boars help to manage the woodlands.
Bog Factor
Minor roads, clear paths and farm tracks.
Ranoldcoup Road, Darvel.
Bus to Darvel from Kilmarnock, Glasgow and Ayr.
NS563373
Begin from the car park on Ranoldcoup Road, off the main street in Darvel. The walk begins by continuing down the street, crossing the fine old stone bridge over the River Irvine. Cross this, then bear left to follow the quiet minor road uphill. It winds to and fro for the ascent and is lined by some fine deciduous trees under a canopy of deciduous trees; there are several benches offering good views back to Darvel. Finally the road bends right at Darvel farm - go ahead through a yard and then left through a kissing gate with a footpath sign.
Follow the path which is enclosed by fences. Soon it bears right uphill along a wider grassy strip, lined with some fine trees. Go through a kissing gate into the woods and then bear right. The path continues along the bottom edge of the trees, with the fence on your right and great views across the Irvine valley.
Eventually the path bears left up through the trees, then turns right along an old forest track. Turn right again at a junction onto a farm track, now heading downhill.
Pass around a locked gate and continue, now on a tarmac lane. passing the unexpectedly grand Hill Cottage. The lane turns right then left then right, heading downhill until it meets a minor road. Turn left and then immediately right to enter Lanfine Estate. Lanfine Estate was inherited by Thomas Brown, a medical doctor and Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, in the 1820s, and he quickly planted many exotic trees and shrubs as well as vast tracts of mixed woodland. Brown also discovered that the estate possessed great mineral resources, and over the years amassed one of the greatest collections of minerals and fossils in Scotland. Over 5000 minerals and 1500 fossils were found and his collections can be seen at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities. In the mid-1800s Lanfine was a famous place of study for academics and both universities still provide 'Lanfine Bursaries' in subjects as diverse as Hebrew and Moral Philosophy.
Follow the surfaced estate road and turn right, signed for Darvel. After another 200m at a path junction take the right fork, again towards Darvel. Look out for a smaller path leaving the track on the left - there's another signpost (though both routes are marked for Darvel). Take the path, following a burn down through the trees to arrive at a tarmac lane with a bridge to your left. Don't cross, instead turning right.
In the woods on the left you may see a family of pigs - closely related to wild boar - which have been introduced to help promote regeneration of the woodland. Continue along the tarmac lane until it reaches the gatehouse by the bridge at the start of the walk. Turn left to cross the bridge and return to the car park in Darvel.
This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?
