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Cunninghame Group, North Ayrshire

We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.

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Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking
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Overview

This is a grade B, 8.5 mile walk with 1400ft ascent to Brown Carrick Hill.  We will walk on a variety of surfaces including tarmac, cobble beach and open countryside.

We start walking from The Kennedy Car Park, Dunure where there is no parking charge.  We immediately pass the impressive ruins of the medieval Dunure Castle and go around the harbour of this quaint fishing village.  Then it is careful walking along the cobbled shore where we must cross Drumbane Burn at the foot of its waterfall.  This was ankle depth on the day of our recce and for this, waterproof boots are recommended.

Timing our walk to avoid the high tide, we walk the shore and follow a series of markers leading us up steep 'stairs' at Fisherton Gully, through disused railway lines, grazed pasture (i.e. with sheep and cattle) to Fisherton Bay and the Heads of Ayr Caravan Park.   There are views over the water to Ailsa Craig, Arran and Ireland!

Heading away from the shore, we walk a paved path to a 100 meter section of the fast A719 where we will walk single file on the verge.  We start our ascent of Brown Carrick straight up from the road, walking at the side of ploughed fields and onto the open hillside.  We reach the top just west of the police wireless station.  We then traverse the ridge to the Trig point on Brown Carrick Hill.  We walk open hillsides, clamber over several imperfect stiles and pick our way through the remnants of a felled timber plantation all of which require attention and nimble footwork.  Depending on the weather, we can have lunch anywhere after the hill top. There’s a wee fishery to notice as we join the track and descend back towards the village of Fisherton.  We see Carrick Castle in the distance and Dunduff Castle along the way.  From Fisherton it is a half mile walk by road back to the car park at Dunure.  There’s a couple of nice wee cafes and pubs in Dunure for those with a thirst at the end.

Saturday, 21 December 2024
Meeting time:
8:30 am
Start time:
9:30 am
Estimated finish time:
3:45 pm
Difficulty:
Moderate
Distance:
13.7km / 8.5mi
Ascent:
426.7m / 1400ft
Type:
circular

Good waterproof boots are recommended for crossing Drumbane Burn.  Poles may be useful for balance on the rocky beach as well as the hill climb.

Features

  • Refreshments available (Pub/cafe)
  • Car parking available
  • Car sharing available
  • No car needed

Meeting point

Grid reference:
NS 28027 42615
Nearest postcode:
KA20 3AJ
what3words:
island.chart.landscape
Meeting time:
8:30 am

Morrison's, Stevenston car park in the corner nearest the big roundabout on the A78 bypass.

Starting point

Grid reference:
NS 25218 15669
Nearest postcode:
KA7 4LW
what3words:
sector.withdraws.reckon
Start time:
9:30 am

Kennedy Car Park, Castle Road, Dunure Parking is free.

Join the Ramblers and enjoy

  • unlimited free access to 50,000 Ramblers group walks
  • a library jam-packed with thousands of tried-and-tested routes
  • a welcome pack teeming with top tips plus our Walk magazine
  • exclusive discounts from our partners
  • knowing your support is opening up more places to walk and helping more people discover the joy of walking