Best walks from Troon

Troon Station to Prestwick Town Station

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

Troon Station to Kilmarnock Station

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

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