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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.

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

Our walk starts at the Visitor Centre of Eglinton Park, where there is ample free parking. There is also a cafe and toilet facilities. The walk is mostly flat, with only a few minor uphill sections, using a roughly 50/50 blend of minor roads and earth tracks through parkland and mature woods. These may be slightly boggy or rough in places. The road section has no pavement, is not busy and the usual care should be taken with single file walking recommended. There are two low fences to be stepped over, with no actual climbing involved.

The walk comprises two linked country estate/woodland walks: one of Eglinton Country Park; the other of Montgreenan Estate. These are joined by a road through the small, former mining village of Benslie.

We walk through Eglinton Park by the castle, through Benslie to the woods of Montgreenan Estate, where we will follow Lugton Water to the ruins of Montgreenan Castle/Bishop's Palace, which lie in a loop of the Lugton Water at its confluence with the Cowlinn Burn. Here, we will see an interesting memorial stone. There, we will stop for lunch before continuing to follow the river, then walk up from the woods and onto open farmland. We will walk the formal paths of Montgreenan Estate where the old woodland has recently been tended to restore health and provide a blend of landscaping and ancient woods. Then we walk back through Benslie and in the 'back way' to Eglinton Park and return to the car park.

We will have a first break either at Benslie or at the start of the woods, depending on what the group prefers.

Saturday, 16 November 2024
Start time:
10:00 am
Estimated finish time:
3:00 pm
Difficulty:
Easy
Distance:
14.5km / 9.0mi
Ascent:
960.7m / 3152ft
Type:
circular

Features

  • Refreshments available (Pub/cafe)
  • Toilets available
  • Accessible by public transport
  • Car parking available
  • Introductory walk

Starting point

Grid reference:
NS 32305 41754
Nearest postcode:
KA12 8TA
what3words:
sting.firework.pulps
Start time:
10:00 am

The Visitor Centre Car Park, Eglinton Country Park

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