We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Pamela F.
This moderate, low-level walk will, in part, be familiar to most walkers as it's in and around Castle Semple Country Park then on to the RSPB Scotland centre for a further stroll along the boardwalk.
This is perfect to take advantage of local trains rather than driving. If travelling by train, the walk starts at Howwood, ending at Lochwinnoch station. You can also park at Lochwinnoch station then train to Howwood, conveniently having your car at the end.
Walkers can either do Castle Semple on its own - 6 miles or include the short walk at the RSPB Centre, short of a further 2 miles. There's the option of a post walk tea and snack in the small cafe.
Within a few minutes of departing from Howwood railway station, we are in a field with (at the time of the recce) a small number of very placid cows. Skirting past them, it's a gentle slope up to Kenmure Hill Temple - also known as Semple Temple. Stopping briefly to enjoy the view, it's back down to carry on until we make a 'back door' entrance into the Park grounds.
Our first stop is the Collegiate Church, founded in 1504 as a place of worship and learning to enter the priesthood. Carrying along the path through a wooded area, it's time to stop in Blackditch Bay to enjoy a coffee break / early lunch, sitting on the carved animal benches. Soon after we reach the visitor centre and can take advantage of the toilets.
Following the tarmacked track we reach the Lochwinnoch RSPB Centre. This is a lot more than birds; it's one of the few wetlands left in the west of Scotland alive with birds and wildlife all the year round. The conservation work is to restore the reserve's wetland system to how it would have been more than 100 years ago by creating new wetland areas, re-naturalising the area's hydrological systems, and reconnecting burns that were diverted.
Here, you can end your walk or continue in the Centre.
There are a few options to reach the walk start for 09.50.
1. Drive and park at Lochwinnoch Station, take the 09.46 train 1 stop to Howwood. Your car is then at the station on your return to Lochwinnoch.
2. Take the 09.07 from Largs to Howwood - arrives 09.50.
3. Take the 09.15 from Glasgow Central to Howwood - arrives 09.35.
4. If planning to carshare to Lochwinnoch, meet at Stevenston's Morrison's Supermarket at 09.00. The train departs Lochwinnoch at 09.46.
Return trains from Lochwinnoch to Largs depart hourly at 8 minutes past the hour. To Ardrossan South Beach depart twice an hour at 8 and 39 minutes past the hour.
From Lochwinnoch to Central are twice an hour at 16 and 46 minutes past the hour.
As already mentioned, the walk can be Castle Semple only or include the RSPB Centre, 6 or 8 miles.
Stevenston's Morrisons supermarket, top end of car park. For the driver, total mileage going through Kilwinning is 26 miles so £5 requested from each car sharer.
On arrival at Howwood from Lochwinnoch just go up to the main road. If coming from Glasgow, go up the ramp and cross the road bridge. If parking at Lochwinnoch station then the train to Howwood departs at 09.46, so make sure you allow enough time to park up and gather your rucksack etc.
Opposite the RSPB Centre - use the safety crossing to get over the road.
