Ayrshire Coastal Path 1: Glenapp to Ballantrae

Summary

The Ayrshire Coastal Path begins with a very scenic and fairly tough coastal section (for part there is a waymarked easier inland alternative), farmland, high cliffs, careful navigation needed in places - look for the white painted waymarks as well as green arrow signs. Ballantrae has a shop and tea room.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Farm tracks (sometimes locked gates with no stile), grazing livestock so dogs must be under strict control, clifftop paths with some short boggy areas. Inland alternative uses farm tracks and minor road.

Getting there

Start

Small walkers car park opposite Glenapp Kirk (space very limited and sometimes car park in use by Estate so bus from Ballantrae a good alternative).

Public Transport

Bus from Ballantrae to Glenapp.

Start Grid Ref

NX074745

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 14.6km / 9 miles
Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Ascent: 366m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The Ayshire Coastal Way starts from the opposite side of the A77 from tiny Glenapp Kirk - possibly the smallest church in Scotland. Just after turning off there is a small walker's car park just to the right near the white cottage. From here follow the track towards the coast, passing an information board about the route and crossing the Water of App before keeping right at a fork to climb gently uphill. Pass a cottage on the left and branch right uphill with coastal views over Loch Ryan opening up to the left.

Stage 2

The track soon curves right to continue gently climbing between Sandloch hill and Finnarts hill - there are prehistoric earthworks and standing stones on the open moorland to the left. Continue on the track, passing through two farm gates (these are sometimes locked and there are no stiles so the gate or fence needs to be climbed). Ignore a track to the right after the second gate and continue by a stone wall as sea views open up to your left. Keep right when the track branches left to Glendrisaig Farm and follow it as it swings inland, crossing a stream before reaching a junction.

Stage 3

Here there is a choice, the main (and most scenic) route turns left to follow a harder coastal section. The alternative is to keep straight ahead to follow waymarked tracks and then minor road on an easier inland route which rejoins the main route just before Ballantrae. For the main coastal route, turn left towards the coast and continue ahead for a short distance and at the next junction (no waymarker) turn right and soon go through a kissing gate and continue ahead, passing a ruined cottage as the route bears left towards the coast.

Stage 4

Follow the track branching right downhill and then keeping straight ahead to follow the track down the cliff to the shore at Currarie Port. Follow the track slightly inland before leaving it to head towards and cross a footbridge to climb the track on the far side. As you near the crest of the hill don't go through the farm gate but turn left to climb the steep grass and bracken bank keeping the fence on your right. Near the top turn right through a gate and continue towards the sea on a grassy path just to the left of a stone wall.

Stage 5

Nearer the clifftop the route turns right and follows a clear but boggy, pitted and sometimes overgrown, path just on the seaward (left) side of a stone wall, there are occasional white waymarkers. As the route heads north there are excellent views ahead and over the sea. The route undulates and goes through a kissing gate and then heads nearer the coast via a small footbridge before continuing above a rockier shoreline. The route stays near the edge of the fields, white marker posts indicate the way. After Wilson's Glen it is necessary to climb uphill to avoid a steep area of cliff and again on the edge of Downan Hill.

Stage 6

Here climb to a kissing gate and then stay on the right of a fence before another kissing gate leads left towards the sea. The next section often has areas of electric fences which are moved regularly to allow cattle to graze new areas, keep to the white posts and the coast as much as possible. Once north of Downan Hill the route heads down to the foreshore and continues to head north across rocky and in places boggy ground keeping an eye out for white painted markers. Go through a small gate in a stone fence before crossing a pebbly beach to eventually emerge on the shingle banks at the southern end of Ballantrae Bay. There are no waymarkers here but head round the left end of a fence to cross the shingle to pick up a track at a farm gate. Keep next to the shore and then follow the track as it turns right to head inland.

Stage 7

At a gate emerge onto a minor road and turn left. Follow this tarmac road past the houses at Garleffin and then turn left at the next road. Soon the A77 is reached, turn left and follow the pavement towards Ballantrae. Cross the river on the new bridge, the original built in 1776 can be seen to the right. Continue into Ballantrae and turn left before the church to head down The Vennel. This reaches a car park with toilets on the far side. The route continues along the sea front which has a number of picnic tables. Ballantrae also has a shop on the main street and a tea room in the garden centre just off the main street.

Next stage: Ballantrae to Lendalfoot

Route Profile

Where to stay

Ayrshire Hotels

Ayrshire B&B

Ayrshire cottages

Glasgow, Ayrshire & Lanark hostels

Glamping and Camping

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