Best walks near Ayr by train

Troon Station to Prestwick Town Station (Ayrshire)

5m direct from Ayr.

Views are tremendous. A scenic coastal walk along a wide promenade, then dune paths and tracks through two golf courses and with a final pavement section into Prestwick. Sandy beach and sea birds throughout; tremendous views. Dune paths may not suit cyclists or those with impaired mobility; the golf-course diversion is well surfaced. Great views of Ailsa Craig and Arran, with abundant sea birds and wildlife.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

The dune path near Pow Burn may be closed at high tide due to erosion (a well-surfaced diversion runs through Royal Troon Golf Course). Take care at Dow's Burn: missing the bridge leaves you at an impassable wide burn mouth, so follow the recommended path and cross at the caravan park.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Irvine Station to Kilmarnock Station (Ayrshire)

15m direct from Ayr.

Predominantly flat and on good surfaces, following riverside paths along the River Irvine and Annick Water and then a long straight former-railway cycle track and a few kilometres of farmland. Makes good use of underpasses; well signed as cycle route 73. Follows National Cycle Route 73 and is suitable for cycling. The riverside is tucked away through trees and grassland and is rich in nature.

14km.

Building work near the river at the Irvine end means some areas are cordoned off; the riverside route itself is unaffected. Giant hogweed grows beside the path in places and should be avoided as it has a nasty sting.

Lunch stop: the Brae.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Stevenston Station to Kilwinning Station (Ayrshire)

30m direct from Ayr.

Quiet roads and a section of path through a sports club and with a little main-road and housing-edge walking. Dubbs Road (part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path) is closed to motor traffic and pleasant to walk. Follows Dubbs Road, which is part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Buses run near the meeting point.

4km.

Crossing the busy B752 is straightforward as it is well positioned for pedestrians.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Troon Station to Kilmarnock Station (Ayrshire)

8m direct from Ayr.

Country lanes, tracks and field paths through farmland and woodland and with a particularly fine wooded stretch through Dundonald. One straight field section can be very muddy and is best bypassed. The Colennan-to-Dundonald section is part of the official Smugglers Trail. Dundonald Woods is an SSSI.

17km. Moderate ascents.

The section between Newfield Mains and Rowanhill runs through the middle of a livestock field and is very muddy even in dry weather and impassable when wet; continue via East Lodge and Cherryknowe instead.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Irvine Station to Troon Station (Ayrshire)

8m direct from Ayr.

stunning views to Arran. A scenic dunes-and-beach route: sandy paths through the dunes (tough going), a long stretch of beach with a few drainage channels to cross and then mown grass and pavement past the marina into Troon. Beautiful and varied with just enough challenge. Possible at high tide; in windy conditions you can walk in the dunes nearer Irvine.

11km. Moderate ascents.

Lengthy sections of soft sand make for challenging walking.

Lunch: No facilities along the way; plenty at either end.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kilwinning Station to Irvine Station (Ayrshire)

15m direct from Ayr.

Mostly a well-marked tarmac cycle path (NCN Route 7) beside the Rivers Garnock and Irvine, with a wooded riverside path and an underpass or two. Some compressed earth and gravel and plus a short stretch of quiet road with no pavement and some steps at the Kilwinning start. Follows National Cycle Network Route 7/73 for most of its length, passing the Garnock Floods nature reserve. Mostly wheelchair accessible apart from the Kilwinning start.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

An infestation of giant hogweed grows close to the path beyond the recycling centre; it has a nasty sting, so avoid touching it. The short Kilwinning start has steps and a narrow path off the cycle route (bypassable via NCN7), plus a brief stretch of pavement-less road. Several road crossings near Irvine, particularly at Sandy Road/B779.

Lunch: No facilities along the way; plenty at either end.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Johnstone Station to Paisley Gilmour Street Station (Renfrewshire)

45m direct from Ayr.

particularly good views north to Ben Lomond. Follows the main road for most of its length and so fairly noisy with many side roads to cross. There are good views and one high point near Elderslie Golf Course; an adjacent cycle path offers a quieter but lonelier alternative.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Paisley Gilmour Street Station to Barrhead Station (Renfrewshire)

45m direct from Ayr.

Follows good paths all the way between the two town centres and sticking largely to the vehicular route with one quieter stretch beside Thornley Dam. Some exposed sections can be tough in strong wind.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Glasgow Central Station to Shettleston Station (Lanarkshire)

1h direct from Ayr.

A very direct, varied urban walk full of contrasts, mixing main roads, residential streets, high streets, footpaths, parks and greenspaces through old and new and upmarket and downmarket neighbourhoods. Some steps at the Shettleston end. Passes the Hovis factory and over the St Enoch subway station; intersects many bus routes.

Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.

The wooded entrance to Greenfield Recreation Ground may feel daunting for solo walkers at quiet times. Some steps, including at Shettleston station.

Lunch: Many shops, cafés, takeaways and restaurants, especially around Glasgow Central and Argyle Street; a wide choice of eating around the halfway point near Duke Street, then options thin out until Shettleston.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Glasgow Central Station to Rutherglen Station (Lanarkshire)

1h direct from Ayr.

An easy, well-surfaced city walk with lovely sections beside the Clyde and through Glasgow Green and following the Clyde Walkway. Straightforward to navigate. Follows the Clyde Walkway and the main cycle route; a riverside stretch near the Police Scotland building was under repair (April 2022) but easily detoured via the road bridge.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kelvindale Station to Glasgow Central Station (Dunbartonshire)

1h direct from Ayr.

One of my favourite routes so far; an interesting and attractive route; incredible how lovely the route is; so many great scenes of natural and man-made beauty. A pleasant, mostly leafy and largely accessible walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Kelvin Walkway, following the river on good, shaded, mostly paved paths through parks and Glasgow's more attractive districts and with only one road crossing. A little steep in Kelvingrove Park with a few cobbles onto Elderslie Street. Follows the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Kelvin Walkway, passing through Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Botanic Gardens (including the arboretum). Good for wildlife watching; dipper, grey wagtail and kingfisher have been seen. Note the navigation switchback at the Kelvin Aqueduct where the walkway meets the canal.

Tough: steep ascents. 6km.

Long stretches of the riverside route are unlit, so it can feel lonely, especially in the evenings. Botanic Gardens and some parks are gated and close around dusk, so it is not a 24-hour route.

Lunch stop: the Inn Deep.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Pollokshields East Station to Glasgow Central Station (Lanarkshire)

1h direct from Ayr.

really good views along the river; the wonderful Glasgow Central Station. A short, straightforward and functional urban route through south-west Glasgow, taking a necessary long way around to avoid motorways, railways and sometimes-derelict industrial areas and before reaching the River Clyde and crossing the traffic-free Tradeston (Squiggly) Bridge into the city centre. Past the grand tenement houses of Pollokshields. Passes the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Scotland Street School Museum (recently under renovation). Crosses the Clyde on the Tradeston 'Squiggly' Bridge.

Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route