Kildoon Hill, Maybole

A relatively straightforward circular route from Maybole including an ascent of local landmark Kildoon Hill.

Terrain

Quiet country lanes, old coach road and grassy paths. Can be overgrown and muddy in places.

Public Transport

Maybole train station is on the Ayr to Stranraer line and there are many buses running along the A77.

Start

Maybole Train Station. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from Maybole train station opposite Town Green - cross the road, follow the path across the green and go down School Vennel to reach the High Street. Turn right along the pavement and pass the imposing Town Hall, built in 1887 and seat of power for the old county of Carrick. The current building contains elements of the Tolbooth or ancient Prison of Maybole and was once the town residence of the Lairds of Blairquhan. Continue along the High Street, and after around 300m fork left along Coral Glen - not at all aquatic and in fact a corruption of 'Quarry Glen' via 'Quarrle Glen' after the fireclay or 'quarl' extracted in the area. As the road descends and curves left look carefully on the right-hand side of the the road for the bricked-up well known as the 'Wee Spout in the Glen' with inscription reading 'Ye may gang further and fare waur'.

Stage 2

Continue down hill to the church of Our Lady & St Cuthbert, then turn right and steeply uphill along Allan's Hill as surprisingly pleasant pastoral views over the Ayrshire countryside emerge.

Stage 3

The monument atop Kildoon Hill is obvious ahead, with a hedgerow-lined lane snaking into the distance. Continue over the brow of the hill and descend to a footbridge alongside a rough ford - cross this and join a minor road. The walking is easy, with minimal changes in elevation bar a slight incline at the railway bridge, so simply enjoy the walk whilst looking out for an old coach road branching right 600m after the bridge signposted 'Kildoon Hill ½ mile'.

Stage 4

Follow the rough but well-made track through a wooded avenue as it curves left and begins to ascend to the bealach between Knockbrake and Kildoon Hill, eventually reaching a couple of wooden gates above a small lochan. Go through the wooden kissing gate on the left adjacent to a metal five-bar gate and make your way along the ridge along one of the many sheep tracks.

Stage 5

The tip of the monument - in memory of Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran who died in 1849 - is constantly in view to aid navigation and is located within the ramparts of a prehistoric fort, no doubt sited due to the wonderful views over the surrounding countryside and natural rocky slopes on almost all elevations. The three external ramparts are clearly visible when approaching the summit from the west along the ridge, as well as the obvious entrance through the inner rampart.

Stage 6

Retrace your steps to the kissing gate and turn left, climb over the stile and ignore the smaller path heading right signposted 'Maybole 2 mls' by a bullet-riddled Carrick Way signpost and instead follow the clear continuation of the coach road straight ahead.

Stage 7

The path quickly becomes overgrown with gorse and potentially muddy at the pinch-points (if it's really bad you may need to walk on the otherside of the drystane dyke) but soon crosses another stile and begins a steep descent alongside the remains of a drystane dyke to a wooden footbridge. Cross this and scramble up the other side to a stile in the field boundary. Turn left along the quiet surfaced road to pass Altiwan Farm at Lower Burncrooks on the left and ignore a minor road on the right signposted 'Kirkoswald 5½ miles'.

Stage 8

Follow the road for another 800m and pass Spring Garden Farm before turning left at the next road junction just before the bridge over Capenoch Burn. This road - signposted 'Maybole 1½ miles' - skirts along the eastern end of Kildoon Hill to reveal the full extent of the steep rocky cliffs below the monument before rejoining the outward route to Maybole.

Route: Phil Turner

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