Three Green Knights Trail, Auchincruive

This short, gentle walk along the south bank of the River Ayr and through attractive mixed woodland on the Auchincruive Estate. Located just outside the county town of Ayr, the estate is a popular walking and mountain bike destination with a network of picturesque trails.

Terrain

Earth footpaths and woodland tracks.

Public Transport

Bus route 43 between Ayr and Mauchline stops at the college gates. .

Start

Car park west of Oswald's Bridge. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Begin from the car park 400m west of Oswald's Bridge. Start the walk by crossing the road and then turning right along the path that runs on the far side to reach and cross Oswald's Bridge. Erected in 1826 and named after Richard Oswald, the 18th century tobacco merchant and slave trader who built the present Auchincruive House in 1767. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn left where indicated by a green waymarker arrow to drop down onto a small footpath weaving along the south bank of the River Ayr - wide and sluggish this close to the sea.

Stage 2

Head along the path watching for herons and dippers feeding; there are numerous little bays at the riverside that make ideal spots for contemplation or a cup of tea. Supported by wooden railings and steps across the worst of the obstacles the path reaches a stile just before a small wooden shack.

Stage 3

Cross this to enter a field planted with golden barley in the summer months and turn left to follow the grass field boundary. Cross a stile to enter an area of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland known as Pheasant Nook consisting mainly of beech, oak, Scots pine and Japanese larch.

Stage 4

The easy path gently climbs to the top corner of the Three Knights' Field, named after the three mounds visible in the field. The views over Oswald Hall, renamed from Auchincruive House in 1927 when the estate was sold by the Oswald family and became the West of Scotland College of Agriculture. The estate became the Scottish Agricultural College in 1990 but plans to redevelop the site were approved in 2011. Looking over the river the view encompasses the hanging gardens, Mount Charles Wood and the Carrick Hill, with the possibility of views of Arran on a clear day.

Stage 5

Don't cross the stile, instead turn left as indicated by the green waymarker arrow and continue along the easy forest path high above the river. Re-emerging from the forest canopy once more, turn sharply right to plunge back into a wooded track which forms a section of the River Ayr Way. Though mostly firm underfoot there can be a few muddy patches criss-crossed by mountain bike tyre marks. Go through the gate at the end of the woodland and onto a grass farm track which terminates at a gate by the road a short distance southeast of Oswald's Bridge. Turn right along the road to return to the estate entrance.

Route: Phil Turner

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