We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Janette S.
This is a leisurely B/C+, one-way, 9-mile walk from Kilwinning, skirting the 3 towns of Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan, and finishing in Ardrossan Town. The route is accessible for baby buggies and mobility scooters with a tarmac detour avoiding the sandy shores.
We will meet at Kilwinning Railway Station and make our way to Kilwinning Sports Ground where we follow its perimeter to join the tarmac Cycle Route 73 through pleasant farmland. We cross the rather busy B752 road with care and enter Ardeer Park Nature Reserve, following the path past the apple orchard and alongside the old Stevenston Coal Canal, looking out for squirrels, tiny hedgerow birds and, if lucky, a little roe deer, until we reach the pond where we will find two territorial swans, a watchful grey heron and a variety of smaller waterbirds.
We continue towards the Stevenston shore, with a snack/lunch/toilet stop at "Doon the Beach Community Cafe" or take a brief detour along the boardwalk and eat on the beach. Returning to the path we enjoy a brief grassy stroll, cross the bridge over the Stevenston Burn, head down to the beach and walk along the sandy coast. We then join the concrete and tarmac promenade with a stop for rest and toilets before continuing on to the "Talking Wall" at Saltcoats Lido to ponder upon the messages posted there. Before leaving Saltcoats we pay a brief visit to its ancient windmill.
The final stretch mixes tarmac promenade and sandy shore along South Beach from Saltcoats to Ardrossan, finishing conveniently at Ardrossan Town railway station and No.11 bus stop.
The most convenient travel to/from the walk is by train or bus.
Train arrival times in Kilwinning: 09.28 from Glasgow; 09.32 from Largs/West Kilbride/Saltcoats. Train departure times from Ardrossan Town (to Saltcoats/Kilwinning): 12.52; 13.51; 14.51. Stagecoach No.11 bus stops (Ardrossan/Saltcoats/ Stevenston/Irvine/Kilmarnock) are near both stations and run every 10 minutes.
If using your car, parking is available at Kilwinning Railway Station, however you will need to travel back there from Ardrossan Town by train or Stagecoach No.11 bus.
If the walk distance is too far, walkers may finish at Saltcoats where there are train and bus links.
While most of the paths are easy-going, there can be some muddy patches and soft sand. Walking boots are recommended. Poles are optional.
