This is the longer of the two waymarked walks that begin through the Locherwood Community Woodland. It's possible to extend the walk across the moors to Windy Hill, and link to Muirshiel.
Bog Factor
Grassy woodland paths, hard tracks; unless the weather has been very dry, some sections can be very boggy.
Car park on B789 between Lochwinnoch & Kilmacolm.
None to start.
NS352640
Begin from the car park along the hard track that soon curves through the trees. When a green marker is reached turn right onto a grassy path, soon passing a picnic table.
The path then descends through mixed native trees, and crosses an old stone clapper bridge over a burn. Continue to cross a modern flat bridge; the path then forks but the two options rejoin further on. Cross another small footbridge, then keep left at the fork. The path now crosses a boardwalk before ascending to meet a grassy track. Turn right along this, with a drystone dyke on your left at first.
Keep right at another junction - there's a blue marker. Soon the route crosses a small burn on stones, with a dense plantation ahead to the left. Soon the path leads to a ladder stile over a wall. Continue up through some dense native bushes, eventually reaching a clearer path at a t-junction, with the Ladymuir Reservoir just ahead. Turn right here, soon reaching a junction of tracks. Turn left, signed Ladymuir Route. The walk now follows a forestry track for several kilometres.
Keep along the hard track as it winds around the southern side of Thornlybank Hill, keeping ahead when a track goes off left. Eventually a junction with a path is reached; a right turn here leads to a possible extension - a path that bypasses Craig Minnan and then climbs Windy Hill for superb views; from there you could retrace steps, or descend to the Muirshiel Country Park if transport has been arranged. Back on our route, continue ahead along the track. Eventually blue markers indicate where to fork left off the track and pick up a grassy path. There are a couple of sections that can get very boggy.
Eventually the path drops down by some rocks and reaches a junction. Keep right here, following the blue markers. The path runs beside a drystane dyke, then crosses a footbridge. Fork right uphill, then continue following the blue marker posts through a more open area. Back in the trees, continue straight ahead when a larger path joins from the left. The path leads to the house at Ward; turn right along a track here. Soon turn left on a path that leads to a t-junction with another track; turn right here to return to the start.
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