Best walks near Kilmarnock by train

Troon Station to Prestwick Town Station (Ayrshire)

15m direct from Kilmarnock.

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

Stevenston Station to Kilwinning Station (Ayrshire)

1h from Kilmarnock, with one change.

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

Irvine Station to Troon Station (Ayrshire)

15m direct from Kilmarnock.

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

Barrhead Station to Thornliebank Station (Renfrewshire)

30m direct from Kilmarnock.

An urban route that opens with pavement walking alongside busy roads, then improves markedly into quiet residential streets after the M77 underpass and with a clear path around housing by the Brock Burn and long views approaching Barrhead. Safe pavements throughout the road sections.

Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.

Plenty of options for refreshment at both ends of the walk.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ayr Station to Prestwick Town Station (Ayrshire)

30m direct from Kilmarnock.

A coastal route mostly on hard surfaces with a short dirt promenade section, starting over the historic Auld Brig of Ayr. One narrow, rocky and steep stretch at St Nicholas Golf Course and plus an industrial-estate section. Toilets along the Prestwick promenade; views across to Arran.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

A 10-15m section at the southern edge of St Nicholas Golf Course is narrow, rocky and steep. A diversion through industrial units (Nov 2021) was in place due to building works.

End-of-walk reward: the Mancini's.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Paisley Gilmour Street Station to Barrhead Station (Renfrewshire)

30m direct from Kilmarnock.

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

New Cumnock Station to Sanquhar Station (Ayrshire)

30m direct from Kilmarnock.

glorious views all around; rewarding views. A long route with lots of tarmac but lovely scenery. A quiet road climbs steadily out of New Cumnock onto a well-maintained forestry track, then a short, slightly unclear grassy path through long grass at the top, before cinder and tarmac tracks descend to Kirkconnel. A short stretch of the A76 (with pavement) and then quiet country roads into Sanquhar. Kirkconnel has a supermarket, toilets and a bench. The route passes a former quarry and wind turbines with a well-signposted work site at the top.

21km.

Pathhead has no pavement; the road is fairly straight with good visibility but care is needed for passing farm and windfarm traffic. One short section of long grass at the high point is a little unclear.

Lunch: Kirkconnel, roughly mid-route, has a supermarket and toilets.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Glasgow Central Station to Shettleston Station (Lanarkshire)

45m direct from Kilmarnock.

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)

45m direct from Kilmarnock.

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)

45m direct from Kilmarnock.

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)

45m direct from Kilmarnock.

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

Pollokshields East Station to Rutherglen Station (Lanarkshire)

45m from Kilmarnock, with one change.

An urban route making good use of green spaces and easy underfoot but noisy from traffic. Some very uneven paving on Cathcart Road. A housing development at the eastern end of Toryglen Park may require a short diversion.

Easy: 4km, gentle ascents.

Very uneven paving on Cathcart Road may be hazardous; busy road crossings at Victoria Road and Aitkenhead Road.

Lunch: Refreshments available around the start and end of the route.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route