Located just outside Ayr, this walk combines a stretch of pleasant riverside walking with woodland trails in the grounds of the former Auchencruive estate.
Bog Factor
Earth footpaths, woodland tracks and quiet minor road.
Limited roadside parking immediately west of Oswald's Bridge.
Bus from Ayr and Mauchline.
NS 387 230
There is limited rough roadside parking on the west side of Oswald's Bridge (the car park mentioned on the sign is usually locked). Don't cross the bridge but go through the pedestrian metal gate (waymarked with blue arrow) next to the main gates that were once used as the main entrance for Auchincruive House. The path runs parallel to the entrance road and is lined with mature trees. The river can be glimpsed on the right. Ignore a wooden gate on the left which is used on the return and continue down to Auchincruive's famous hanging gardens. Built in the 1830s as a work creation scheme for unemployed miners, the high terraced sandstone walls include semi-circular piers and buttresses and were once part of the formal gardens for the house. Even as nature takes back control the wildflowers can be spectacular. Continue along the path as it follows the River Ayr.
Keep ahead by the river when a track comes in from the left and pass a picnic area. Herons and fishermen are often seen on this part of the river competing for fish. Head through a wooden kissing gate and press on, with the trees of Brockle Wood forming a canopy overhead. Continue ahead going under a pipe and eventually through a stepped gap in an old stone wall. The ancient hamlet of Millholm was situated nearby, and part of the riverbank was washed away in 1966 to reveal an old mill lade.
After climbing a few steps through a stone ruin, ignore a path heading off uphill to the left and continue along the root-strewn path closer to the river. At the next path fork, branch left away from the river bank. Keep straight ahead at the next junction heading down a short set of steps and then following a path with a small stream to your right. Eventually the path emerges from the wood into farmland, turn left onto a farm track here. When a minor road is reached turn left along it.
Follow the road downhill past fields with unrestricted pastoral views. Watch for a wooden gate on the left at a small layby between two metal farm gates and before a stone wall. Go through this and follow the grassy path ahead through what used to be the arboretum of the Auchincruive estate. The estate had a tower house on it as early as 1532, the current Oswald House was built in the 18th century by Richard Oswald, a merchant and slaver who brought many trees back from his businesses in Florida, Jamaica, Bengal and China and had the ornamental gardens were laid out in the style of Capability Brown. The estate became an agricultural college in 1927 and more recently the house has become the offices for a biotech company.
When the grass path forks take the right hand branch to pass through wildflower meadows soon with a fence on your left. When a gap in the fence is reached go through this and turn left continuing on this path in the same direction as before and soon passing the entrance to the Little Acorns forest school to the right. When the path reaches a gate with a minor road ahead, cross the road and take the pavement diagonally to the right and soon turn right along one of the estate roads. Continue on the road passing a college building and keep straight ahead eventually passing a vehicle barrier. At the next junction turn left and follow the path just right of the road, passing the front of Oswald House, now private offices (no access for vehicles). Built in 1767 it was designed by Robert Adam with the east and west wings were added in 1819. Follow the entrance road round to the right and look out for the wooden gate on the left . Go through this and turn right to return to the start.
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