Ayrshire & Galloway
Walking
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AS Home
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Ayrshire, Galloway and
the Islands just off the
coast have a good variety
of walking routes. These
include mountains, scenic
hills, country estates and
coastal. Most of the
hills/mountains have safe
steady hiking routes to the
top. Most also have steep
testing hiking routes to
the top for the more
adventurous, some with
1,000 ft cliffs for rock
climbing, as can be seen in
the Photo Tours.
The highest
hill/mountain ranges are
The Merrick Range (Awful
Hand) up to 2,766 ft,
Corserine Range (Rhins of
Kells) up to 2,671 ft, and
the Cairnsmore of Casphairn
Range up to 2,614 ft. The
Goat Fell
Range on the Isle of
Arran is up to 2,866
ft.
The most difficult range
is the rocky 2,270 ft
Mullwarchar
Range or (Dungeon
Range) that runs from
the south side of Loch Doon
to to the east side of Loch
Trool, with many high
cliffs along the east side
that attract rock climbers.
Another testing range is
the Lamachan
Range on the south side
of Loch Trool.
The only hill with a man
made path all the way to
the top is the 1,532 ft
Cornish
Hill. The 1,086 feet
Straiton Hill has
a trail all the way to the
top. The 1,062ft Glessel
Hill by Loch Doon Dam
has a faint trail all the
way to the top from the
Roundhouse Cafe. The 2,766
ft Merrick has
a well marked trail to the
top from Loch Trool, some
of that trail is man made.
The 2,671 ft Corserine
has a fairly well marked
trail from Forest Lodge.
The 2,614 ft Cairsmore of
Casphairn has a good
tourist trail most of the
way. If you are new to Hill
Walking / Mountain Hiking,
these may be the best to
try first. Large Map of these
Routes .
Large Southern
Scotland click on Mountains
Map.
The routes below have
photo tours to give a guide
to the route with images
and text.
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Ailsa
Craig
An island bird sanctuary 10
miles off the town of
Girvan. This 1,110 feet
volcanic island popular
with hill walkers. There
are boats from Girvan that
makes regular visits to the
island. You get about 3
hours on the island, enough
time to hike to the summit
and back with time to
spare, then a trip around
to view the cliffs, birds
and seals before returning
to Girvan.
Tour .
Ailsa Craig
. Girvan . Map
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Alloway
Village, Rozelle Estate
& Belleisle Estate
About 4 - 6 miles,
starting in the extremely
scenic Alloway Village 3
miles south of Ayr. The
walk then passes through
Rozelle Estate for scenic
ponds, mansion house with
art gallery and modern art
sculptures in the gardens.
The walk then passes
through Belleisle Estate
past the golf courses and
into the scenic gardens and
deer park.
Photo Tour
Page . Alloway .
Map
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Ayr to
Greenan Castle & Heads
of Ayr cliffs &
Dunure
About 5 - 8 miles, starting
at the Low Green in Ayr
centre by the beach. The
walk goes south just over 2
miles to Greenan Castle at
Doonfoot, following a path
or along the beach. The
walk can be extended from
Greenan Castle to the 300
feet Heads of Ayr cliffs a
further 2 miles south, and
to Dunure village another 2
miles south.
Photo Tour
Page . Ayr
Page . Map
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Ayr
River Walk
About 2 - 3 miles out and
back. This walk begins at
Ayr Auld Brig in the town
centre. The path follows
the east side of the river
into Craigie Estate from
where you can view Craigie
House and gardens. You can
extend the walk east to the
River Ayr Stepping Stones,
and another 2 miles further
to Auchincruive Estate.
Photo Tour
Page . Ayr
Page
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Barr
Walking Routes
Woodland walks and hills up
to 1,800 feet. These walks
start from the village of
Barr, 8 miles east of
Girvan, or from a car park
about half of a mile north
of Barr up Changue Road.
There are a number of
interesting woodland walks
that can be extended into
the hills of up to 1,800
feet.
Tour Page .
Barr
Village . Map
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Blackcraig
Hill
26 miles southeast of Ayr
by New Cumnock, 2,296 feet.
Blackcraig Hill has a few
routes to the top from
fairly easy to hard. There
are another three hills of
around 2,000 ft connected
to Blackcraig that many
people want to walk round
on the same day, once up
there, why not do them all.
The four hills give great
views as can be seen on the
photo tour page.
Tour .
New Cumnock .
Map
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Brown
Carrick Hill
5 miles south of Ayr by
Dunure, 914 feet.
Brown Carrick Hill is the
highest hill close to Ayr.
The views from the top are
amazing in all directions.
There are a number of
routes to the top including
driving most of the way via
a hill road. This route
also gives information on
walking to Newark Hill on
the south side of Ayr.
Photo Tour
Page . Ayr
Page . Map
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Cairnsmore of
Carsphairn
23 miles southeast of Ayr
by the village of
Casphairn, 2,614 feet.
Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is
one of the six highest
hills/mountains in
southwest Scotland. There
is a tourist trail most of
the way to the top, and
there are other hills in
the area that the hike can
be extended to.
Photo Tour
Page . Carsphairn .
Map
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Cornish
Hill
21 miles southeast of Ayr
1,532 feet. This walk
starts from the Stinchar
Bridge car park and follows
a man made path through
woodland, up to the top of
Cornish Hill, and down to
Cornish Loch. This may be
the only hill in Ayrhsire
with a man made path all
the way to the top.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Corserine Tourist
Trail
From Forest Lodge 34 miles
southeast of Ayr. The 2,671
feet Corserine is on a
range down the east side of
Loch Doon known as the
Rhinns of Kells. For the
hike up the east side
tourist trail, there is a
car park and picnic area in
The Forest Estate, at
Forest Lodge, from where
the hike begins.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Corserine to Meikle
Millyea
From Forest Lodge 34 miles
southeast of Ayr, 2,671
feet. Corserine is on a
range down the east side of
Loch Doon known as the
Rhinns of Kells. For the
hike from Corserine south
to Millfire, Milldown and
Meikle Millyea, there is a
car park and picnic area in
The Forest Estate, at
Forest Lodge, from where
the hike begins.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Corserine &
Carlin's Cairn
From Loch Doon, 2,671 feet.
Corserine and Carlin's
Cairn are on a range down
the east side of Loch Doon
known as the Rhinns of
Kells. There is a car park
at the south side of the
loch from where the hike
begins.
Photo Tour
. Dalmellington .
Map
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Craiglee
Hill
From Loch Doon 21 miles
southeast of Ay, 1,716
feet. Craiglee Hill is a
popular walk from Loch Doon
Castle on the banks of Loch
Doon. The lower Wee Hill of
Craigmulloch is normally
hiked at the same time as
there is a trail round the
two hills. Both hills give
great views over the
loch.
Photo Tour
. Dalmellington .
Map
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Dungeon
Range North Side
From Loch Doon over a rocky
range with 1,000 foot
cliffs, 2,270 feet. The
north end of the Dungeon
Range or (Mullwarchar
Range) hike starts from the
south side of Loch Doon and
goes over some rugged hills
including, Hoodans,
Mulwarchar, Dungeon,
Craignary, and Craignaw.
Toughest looking range in
southern Scotland.
Photo Tour
. Dalmellington .
Map
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Dungeon
Range South Side
From Loch Trool, 2,116
feet. The south side of the
Dungeon Range hike starts
from the Bruce's Stone car
park at Loch Trool and goes
over the 1,742ft Craiglee,
2,116ft Craignaw, 2,001ft
Dungeon, and 1,952ft
Craignairy. The route back
on this tour is down the
Loch Valley trail.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Dungeon
Range Southwest
Side
From Loch Trool, 2,116
feet. This is the direct
route to Craignaw via the
Loch Valley Trail that can
be extended to the 2,001ft
Dungeon, and 1,952ft
Craignairy. This route to
Craignaw is probably the
best rugged hike in
southern Scotland.
Photo Tour Page .
Map
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Girvan
Hillwaking
South side of Girvan 974
feet. This walk can take in
one hill or a number of
hills over a 5 mile long
range that runs from Girvan
to Kennedy's Pass 5 miles
south. The highest hill is
Grey Hill at 974 feet. The
most climbed hill with the
closest and best views over
Girvan is the steep sided
Byne Hill at 703 feet.
There is also a large
memorial well worth
visiting on the south side
of Byne Hill.
Photo Tour
. Girvan Guide .
Map
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Glessel
Hill
By Loch Doon Dam 1,062
feet. This is a short hike
from the Roundhouse Cafe at
Loch Doon Dam for great
views over Loch Doon. The
hike can be extended to
other hills and to the
impressive Ness Glen gorge
via the Scottish Dark Sky
Observatory.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Greeto
Waterfalls Walk
On the north side of Largs.
The Greeto Falls are
situated above the town of
Largs. There is a walking
route from the town up into
the hills to the falls
where you can also get
great views over the
Cumbrae islands and the
Isle of Arran.
Photo Tour
Page . Largs Page .
Map
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Isle of
Cumbrae
Off Largs, 10 mile walk
flat or 417 feet. This walk
around the Isle of Cumbrae
is about 10 miles. There
are also trails across the
island at its highest point
at 417 feet. The road round
the island is popular with
cyclists as well with many
cycle hire shops on the
island. The only town is
Millport with cafe's and a
hotel for food and
beverages.
Photo Tour
Page . Cumbrae .
Map
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Kirriereoch &
Tarfessock
By Glentrool, 28 miles
southeast of Ayr. This
2,579ft hike begins from a
car park on the grounds of
Kirriereoch Farm and Forest
Plantation. There is an
easy to follow trail up the
west ridge of Kirriereoch,
steep descent down the
north side, across to
Tarfessock, then down
Tarfessock west ridge back
to the car park.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Knockdolian
Hill
By Ballantrae and
Colmonell, 10 miles south
of Girvan, 870 feet. This
is a lone hill close to the
sea with great views up the
Stinchar Valley and over
the sea. There is a hill
walk about 2 miles out from
Colmonell, or a riverside
walk out from Ballantrae,
also about 2 miles.
Photo Tour
Page . Ballantre .
Map
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Lamachan
Range
On the south side of Loch
Trool 34 miles southeast of
Ayr, 2,352 feet. This is a
testing hike over five
rugged hills with some
steep sections and an
adventurous ridge.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Lendalfoot Hill /
Balsalloch Hill
6 miles south of Girvan,
614 feet. This is a scenic
hike up one of the lower
hills in Ayrshire, but one
of the most rewarding.
Lendalfoot Hill or its real
name Balsalloch Hill, is a
lone hill rising out of the
sea meaning you get awesome
views from close to the
top, and from the top down
over the shore road,
village and large
monument.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Merrick
From Loch Trool, highest
mountain in southern
Scotland at 2,766 feet. The
Merrick hike starts from
the Bruce's Stone car park
at Loch Trool and goes over
the 2,358 ft Benyallary.
You can descend the same
route, or take in other
hills on the road back
down.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Ness
Glen Trail
By Loch Doon Dam. The
scenic Ness Glen Trail
starts from the Roundhouse
Cafe at Loch Doon Dam. The
route down alongside the
River Doon has to be seen
to be believed. The route
back up over the top of
Ness Glen passes the
Scottish Dark Sky
Observatory, a popular
visit on that route.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Nick of
the Balloch
By the village of Barr hill
walking 11 hills up to
1,800 feet. These hikes
start from the Nick of the
Balloch road or from the
village of Barr, 8 miles
east of Girvan. There are
eleven hills on this range
northeast of Barr from
1,500 feet up to 1,800
feet. All the hills are
connected so once up on
one, you can go round some
others, or all, as there
are only low drops between
them following the ridges.
There are a few steep
climbs betwen some of the
hills not following the
ridges, especially between
Haggis Hill and Glengap
Hill where there is an
amazing glen.
Photo Tour
. Barr Village .
Map
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Pinbreck
Hill
By the village of Barr, 2
hills up to 1,639 feet.
This hike starts from the
Nick of the Balloch road,
10 miles east of Girvan.
There is a fairly steep
route up to the top of
Pinbreck Hill, and a fairly
easy route. The
neighbouring 1,594 ft
Eldrick Hill can aslo be
hiked, but is a lot tougher
as it is covered in fairly
deep heather.
Photo Tour
. Barr Village .
Map
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Rhinns
of Kells
North end from Carsphairn 4
or 6 hills up to 2,280
feet. This hike starts at a
car park about half of a
mile northwest of the
village of Carsphairn, 23
miles southeast of Ayr. The
hills on a loup here are
the 2,162 ft Cairnsgarroch,
2,280 ft Meaul, 2,011 ft
Bow, and 2,043 ft Coran of
Portmark. The hike can also
take in the 1,732 ft Black
Craig and 1,640 ft
Knockower.
Photo Tour
Page . Road Map
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Shalloch-on-Minnoch
From Stinchar Bridge 22
miles southeast of Ayr
2,520 feet. This hike
starts from the Stinchar
Bridge car parks about 7
miles south of the village
of Straiton. This is the
easy route taking about 1
hour 30 minutes to the top.
The walk can also be
extended to the Merrick on
the same range.
Photo Tour
Page . Road Map
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Shalloch-on-Minnoch
From Loch Riecawr 26 miles
southeast of Ayr 2,520
feet. This hike starts in
the Carrick Forest from
Loch Riecawr by the
Tunskeen Bothy. There is a
tourist road that passes
through the forest past
three lochs, Loch Braden,
Loch Riecawr and Loch Doon.
The forest road can be
entered from just east of
Dalmellington via Loch Doon
and from south of the
scenic village of Straiton.
This is the tougher route
to this mountain.
Photo Tour
Page . Road Map
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Straiton to Hunter
Monument and Bennan
Circuit
Scenic village 14 miles
southeast of Ayr 1,086
feet. This walk starts in
the scenic village of
Straiton and climbs to the
Hunter Monument on top of
one of the highest hills
overlooking the
village.
Photo Tour .
Straiton Website
. Map
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Stinchar Bridge to the
Stinchar Falls
21 miles southeast of Ayr.
This walk starts from the
Stinchar Bridge car park
and follows a man made path
through woodland, for about
3 miles to the Stinchar
Falls. The route is fairly
level most of the way, just
two short sections with
inclines.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Glenashdale Falls and
Giants Grave
South side of Whiting Bay
on the Isle of Arran. This
walk is about one and a
half miles up a good
woodland path to the
Glenashdale Falls. The walk
then goes round a high path
to the Giants Grave sitting
high above Whiting Bay. The
path from the grave winds
its way down off the hill
back to the trail close to
Whitng Bay.
Photo Tour
. Arran Guide .
Map
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Goat
Fell Mountain
Isle of Arran southwest
Scotland 2,866 feet. Goat
Fell is the highest
mountain on the Isle of
Arran at 2,866 feet or 874
metres. Large Image. The
Isle of Arran is probably
the most scenic island in
Scotland. The mountain is
about 2 miles north of the
main town and ferry port of
Brodick. Goat Fell has
spectacular views over the
island and Firth of Clyde
to Scotland. The main
tourist trail up Goat Fell
normally takes between 4
& 6 hours to the top
and back.
Photo Tour
. Map
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Caisteal Abhail
Mountain
Isle of Arran southwest
Scotland 2,818ft. Caisteal
Abhail is the second
highest mountain on the
Isle of Arran at 2,818ft.
The mountain is 9 miles
north of the main town and
ferry port of Brodick. The
main safe trail up Caisteal
Abhail, from North Glen
Sannox, normally takes
between 4 & 6 hours to
the top and back. There is
also a tough route from
North Glen Sannox over the
Witches Step.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Holy
Isle
Off the Isle of Arran 1,030
feet. This walk begins
after a ferry trip to Arran
then a small boat trip from
Lamlash to the Holy Isle.
The walk starts on the
Island from the pier, where
someone from the Buddhist
retreat will welcome you to
the island. The summit is
about 1,030 feet.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Kings
Cave from the Kings Cave
Car Park
West side of the Island of
Arran, about a 3 mile walk.
This walk to the Kings Cave
is from a specially built
car park about 2 miles
north of Blackwaterfoot on
the west side of Arran. The
walk is about one and a
half miles out the the
cave.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Kings
Cave from
Blackwaterfoot
West side of the Island of
Arran, about a 4 mile walk.
This walk to the Kings Cave
is from the Shiskine Golf
Club at Blackwaterfoot
on the west side of Arran.
The walk is about two miles
out to the cave which is
fairly level apart from a
rather large hill in the
middle.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Machrie
Moor Stone
Circles
West side of the Isle of
Arran by Machrie. This walk
is from a specially built
car park about 3 miles
north of Blackwaterfoot, on
the west side of the Isle
of Arran. The walk from the
car park is about one and a
half miles out a good path
to the largest of the stone
circles.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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Torrylin
Cairn
Southwest side of the Isle
of Arran by Kilmory. This
walk is from the small
village of Kilmory, and
follows a good woodland
path for about half of a
mile to the Torrylin Cairn.
The cairn gives great views
over the Mull of Kintyre
and Ailsa Crag.
Photo Tour
Page . Map
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