We had a lovely time cycling the "unsuitable for cyclists, horses and slip on shoes" Mull of Galloway path last year ( https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/a-galloway-gallivant/) but it ended with a sign announcing the start of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, and that had us thinking...wonder if that is rideable? Only one way to find out!
And so it was, a good few months later in the winter that we began our exploration of our nearest coastline. As with most of our rides on these Great Scottish Trails, we split it up into manageable day bimbles, either out and back from the van or a loop if one revealed itself.
Glenapp to Ballantrae
We start out from the small coast village of Ballantrae and followed the ACP route to the letter southwards. Starting at wave level before being forced upwards onto the tussocky cliff tops.
Crossing over the undersea electricity cables that, presumably, feed Northern Ireland we stopped to watch seals watching us.
Dropped down to Glenapp for a sarnie, then headed back taking farm tracks and back roads. We also took a diversion up into the hills above Ballantrae to find the resting place of B-24 Liberator and the sad story of USAAF air and ground crew on their final journey home after surviving the war.
Ballantrae to Lendalfoot
Parked at the coastal monument to the Russian ship Varyag, before heading South on footpaths and the main road tight against the sea. Dropped onto the beach where we could but certainly wasn't our favourite or safest leg. Climbed up to Sawney Beane's cave but opted to avoid having seen ambulances and Mountain Rescue onsite a few weeks earlier.
Instead we dropped down to Snib's cave on the old abandoned A77 now crumbling into the sea.
Neither of us faced the return the same way so did a longer inland loop through Colmonell before heading back over to Lendalfoot.
Lendalfoot to Girvan
Again, reversed the route and started in the faded seaside town of Girvan. Hugging the coast and sandwiched between the busy A77 and the sea with a nice respite as the ACP headed high at Ardwell and lifted us away from the road danger.
Spotted a sad but interesting looking 1950s Thorneycroft tender rotting away beside the railway.
Girvan to Culzean
Hob nobbing with the hoy polloi as we made our way out of Maidens through Trumps Turnberry golf pitch and down the long sandy beach.
Was able to stay close to the beach most of the way to Girvan with a detour into the town for completeness. For the return we headed inland and down through the giant whiskey stores of William Grant before winding our way towards Kirkoswald, down into Culzean and back to the van.
Culzean to Dunure
Started at the small fishing harbour of Dunure and followed the headlands on footpaths. The route atop the headlands until dropping us steeply down on to Croy beach.
Dunure to Ayr
It's not often we check tide tables for a bike ride but we were hoping to ride under the Heads of Ayr so check we must. We opted for the eebs on this leg so we could keep pedalling on the broken and rocky shoreline. The terrain was fairly challenging and used up a lot of our "trials" skills.
For the return we once again headed high onto the Carrick Hiils back towards Ayr and the safety of the Burton Cycle Track and back into Ayr itself.
Ayr to Troon
No need for "trials" skills on this leg, very urban start as we wiggled through the "docks" of Ayr before hitting the long lengths of sand dunes up towards Prestwick. More dune and beach riding as we passed the many links courses here. For a speedy return we used the NCR7. Not the most inspiring leg so far.
Troon to Saltcoats
Glorious day as we headed out along the hard sandy beaches of Barrassie, Gailes and Irvine.
Forced inland at Irvine past the old racecourse on good multiuse pathways we made our way North along the NCR7 to the outskirts of Kilwinning.
Backroads or foothpaths took us back towards Stevenson beach and though the dunes to Saltcoats.
Saltcoats to Largs
Bitter cold once again so we skipped a dip in the Saltcoats tidals pools and headed through a sad looking Ardrossan and up the beach towards Seamill.
Continued to hug the beach paths out to Portencross Castle before up through Hunterston Nuclear site and its many warning signs.
Largs to Wemyss Bay
Final leg. Parked up at the marina in Largs and kept tight to the seashore and through the thronging crowds of icecream lickers and ferry goers as we headed north. Past Largs the route took us inland and we climbed up around Knock Hill and a little detour to the hilltop fort for great views across to the islands.
Descending down to Black Glen then picked up quiet back roads past Skelmorlie Castle and into the town past some seriously large Victorian mansions of old. And so we reached a rather sad looking official start/end point for the Ayrshire Costal Path.
It was an interesting ride, below Ayr feels far more wild and, in some places, remote and is hard as a biking route but north of Ayr and it is much more urban, touristy (and golfery). But, once again, a great way to explore areas of our homeland that we have either never visited or only driven past in our 4 wheeled tin boxes. And good news... the ACP end sign mentioned another onward path - the Clyde Coastal Path that will take us onwards to Glasgow!
Cheers
Vincent and Jill
Enjoyed that write up! Love a good trip that takes you somewhere. Very nicely done.
Very good.
Lovely. I definitely need to save this thread as I've long thought about joining up Stranraer and Glasgow along the coast (it's the only major section of the mainland coast I've not been along). I was hoping to do it as one trip - and on a gravel bike - though 😂
Thanks for the write up and photos, inspiring thread!
super that. love a adventure.
Thanks for posting and well done. Very interesting and great photos