We are the Kilmarnock & Loudoun Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
From our start point we cross the main road and head up into Craigengillan estate. We stay on this tarmac road for around 1.3 miles before turning right onto a rough path. We go through a gate and over a stile before reaching a small fishing loch with a fisherman's hut. We will have a short break here. Back on the path, we go through a number of gates until we turn right onto a feint grassland path. This path is quite overgrown and uneven underfoot. We go through another gate, then follow a route uphill to reach a large stile. After this the path becomes more feint with difficult underfoot conditions. Continuing uphill we eventually reach a cairn. You can see the trig point on Auchenroy hill from here, hopefully. Continuing on over open moorland, and another large stile, we finally reach our objective. Weather permitting we'll have a lunch break here. We now re-trace out steps back to the rough path. This path then leads us to Dalcairney falls. We'll have a breather here, then follow a riverside path, go through a field to join a tarmac road which leads us back to our start point.
This walk is a mixture of tarmac roads, rough paths and open moorland. Some of the route is overgrown with difficult underfoot conditions. I would have graded this walk as a B, but with these conditions I think B+ would be more realistic. I would strongly advise sturdy boots, gaiters and two walking poles. This is, however, a beautiful area for walking with great views on a clear day. To get to the startpoint from Kilmarnock. Take the A77 south to the Ayr bypass. Next, take the A713 to Dalmellington. Our startpoint is on the left as you enter the village. Total travel distance, 54 miles. £18 per car
Meet at East Ayrshire Council Headquarters, 95 London Road, Kilmarnock KA3 7BU
Dalmellington community centre car park
