We are the Cunninghame Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Linda S.
This is a grade B, 10 mile walk with 1200ft ascent to Brown Carrick Hill. We will walk on a variety of surfaces including tarmac, cobble beach and open countryside.
We start walking from The Kennedy Car Park, Dunure where there is no parking charge. We immediately pass the impressive ruins of the medieval Dunure Castle and go around the harbour of this quaint fishing village. Then it is careful walking along the cobbled shore where we must cross Drumbane Burn at the foot of its waterfall. This was ankle depth on the day of our recce and for this, waterproof boots are recommended.
Once past the rocky outcrop where the tide will be out at that time, we will have a tea break on the shore, then follow a series of markers to walk a combination of vegetation obscured disused railway lines, grazed pasture (i.e. with cattle) and beach front to Fisherton Bay and the Heads of Ayr Caravan Park. There is a steep set of steps to climb at Fisherton Gully then views over the water to Ailsa Craig, Arran and Ireland!
Heading away from the shore, we walk a paved path to a 100 meter section of the fast A719 where we will walk single file on the verge. We start our ascent of Brown Carrick straight up from the road, walking at the side of ploughed fields and onto the open hillside. We reach the top just west of the police wireless station. We then traverse the ridge to the Trig point on Brown Carrick Hill. We walk open hillsides, clamber over several imperfect stiles and pick our way through the remnants of a felled timber plantation all of which require attention and nimble footwork. Depending on the weather, we can have lunch anywhere after the hill top. There’s a wee fishery to notice as we join the track and descend back towards the village of Fisherton. We see Carrick Castle in the distance and Dunduff Castle along the way. From Fisherton it is a half mile walk by road back to the car park at Dunure. There’s a couple of nice wee cafes and pubs in Dunure for those with a thirst at the end.
Good waterproof boots are recommended for crossing Drumbane Burn. Poles may be useful for balance on the rocky beach as well as the hill climb.
Morrison's, Stevenston car park in the corner nearest the big roundabout on the A78 bypass.
Kennedy Car Park, Castle Road, Dunure Parking is free.
