Walks from Wemyss Bay

Recommended: Lovely views as you'd expect; It was gorgeous; a gorgeous walk of three fairly different thirds; a wonderful route; Excellent view, a variety of scenery. A gorgeous coastal walk of three contrasting thirds: a winding climb out of Wemyss Bay onto a picturesque, slightly muddy and stony lane with a lovely tree tunnel, then a wooded shore footpath past beaches and finally a long pavement stretch beside the A78 with beautiful firth views. Several flights of steps at Inverkip. An excellent bus service runs down the Clyde coast between Glasgow and Largs, allowing the route to be split. Dolphins are occasionally seen offshore; Bute, Arran, Dunoon and Cowal are visible. Facilities at Inverkip and Lunderston Bay.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 4h–8h

Lunch: Several possible lunch stops in Inverkip, midway, plus toilets and facilities at Lunderston Bay.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. The way up through Inverkip is extremely steep in places with several flights of stone steps (a switchback road bypasses them). The final third runs along a wide pavement beside the busy A78. The farm track has several gates to negotiate.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.