Walks near Ayr by train

Recommended: Ayrshire Coastal Path with a 1.6-mile inland walk to the station.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Wonderful views out across the Firth of Clyde to the islands and the Cowal Peninsula. Walks almost entirely on quiet tarmacked back lanes with verges and hedges full of wild flowers and well above the busy coast road. Easy going overall with a few quite steep uphill sections. Wemyss Bay has one of the most beautiful railway stations in the country.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: No facilities along the way (other than a bus stop north of Skelmorlie Bridge); cafe and toilets at Wemyss Bay and plenty at Largs.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Recommended: 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.

Time: 3h30–7h30

1 lunch spot: the Brae

Warnings: 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.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Coast path — Ayrshire Coastal Path all the way.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for four fifths of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Beautiful scenery. Pavements and coastal footpaths out of Largs, then mostly tarmac forest tracks and estate roads inland, with sections of foot/cycle path beside the A78. Easy walking surfaces throughout and with a final uphill stretch on Drummilling Road. A tidal lagoon along the route is full of birdlife. The author has not walked it on the ground.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk. The route crosses the busy A78 twice with no formal pedestrian crossings; take care. Drummilling Road into West Kilbride has no verge and blind summits and corners, so walk with care.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for three fifths of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: 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.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 11h30–23h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Coast path — Ayrshire Coastal Path all the way.

Walk details: Railwalks.

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.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 3h–6h

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

Warnings: Lengthy sections of soft sand make for challenging walking.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for three fifths of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.