We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Scott W.
Starting at Catrine Village we follow the River Ayr on natural paths: mainly a flat route but with a few crumbly ascents and descents; one section being a staircase with 70 steps. In addition to the river with its steep gorge, this section of the walk features old trees, hedgerows and farmland with abundant birdlife. The highlight of the walk is reached after only two miles, one boggy patch and a wobbly low fence to be climbed. It is astonishing. A huge Cup and Ring marked rock, vertical and in red sandstone, carved in the neolithic/ Bronze Age. This really is the best example of this ancient art we have ever seen.
We will take plenty of time for photographs at the rock then go another quarter of a mile to the Ballochmyle railway viaduct that towers 170 feet above the River Ayr gorge. Built from the same red sandstone that the ancients carved, it is the tallest in Britain and its base provides a ledge for our lunch stop.
We retrace our steps to complete this short and amazing winter walk.
We will stop just once for a snack on this short walk.
Poles may be useful as the river path is crumbly and there's a bit of vegetation and mud as we approach the rock face. There's one wobbly fence to climb but it is easy with helping hands to steady us.
Morrison's Supermarket car park - in the corner that's nearest the big roundabout on the A78 bypass.
The car park on the corner of Wood Street, Catrine. This is free parking. £5 is the appropriate contribution for those taking a lift from Morrison's as the return distance is 42 miles.
