Castles of Ayrshire Discover Ayrshire trails of Tourist Information Centres (TICs) Electronic Tourist Information discovery We have Tourist Information Points (ETIPs) Centres in Ayr, Largs and on the We have web kiosks situated at Isle of Arran where you can make the following venues, providing advance accommodation further tourist information: bookings and get ideas of what Alloway Walking Tours to see and do during your trip. Ayrshire Please drop in and visit us when • Loudoun Castle, Galston you’re in the area. • Information Centre, Girvan • Dean Castle, Kilmarnock Wandering Wild Tourist Information Centres • Prestwick Airport, Prestwick Open all year • Magnum Leisure Centre, Irvine • 22 Sandgate, Ayr, KA7 1BW Castles of Ayrshire • The Pier, Brodick, The Isle of Isle of Arran Arran, KA27 8AU • Community Hall, Lochranza Open summer Isle of Cumbrae A Burns Roundup • The Railway Station, Largs, • Cumbrae Card & Gift Shop, KA30 8AN Millport For further information and to book accomodation in Ayrshire, The Isles of Arran & Cumbrae and the rest of Scotland www.visitscotland.com tel 0845 2255 121 great www.ayrshirepaths.org.uk has full details of many of the Central Ayrshire suggested walks. ways to explore Ayrshire www.ayrshiretrails.co.uk Contact trails of discovery Ayrshire is a land of spectacular scenery, awesome sunsets, ancient castles and enchanting gardens. It is also the birthplace of Robert Burns, whose love for his native soil was expressed in an extraordinary variety of poems, songs and ballads. Today the words still resonate at every gathering in the world where there’s an affection for Scotland You can sense Burns’s presence in many of the places described in this booklet. Of course, these explorations are not meant solely for lovers of the bard. Whatever your interests and activities – wildlife, hill and coastal walks, historic landmarks, country parks – you’ll discover a great wealth of pleasures. contents Alloway Walking Tour Page 4 A stroll around Burns’s birthplace, with appropriate quotes from his poetry. Wandering Wild Page 8 Explore spectacular coast and countryside, with plenty of walking opportunities and wildlife for the eagle eyed. The Castles of Ayrshire Page 12 A journey through five centuries of history from ancient fortresses to magnificent mansions and tiny tower houses. A Burns Roundup Page 18 Three trails that reveal a larger picture of the bard’s life. 4 Alloway Walking Tour trails of discovery 5 In following this picturesque trail you’ll come ‘Jolly Beggars’ and the ‘Deil’s awa wi the exciseman’- across the wellsprings of Robert Burns’s genius. “Wi quaffing and laughing They It includes a visit to the Alloway cottage where ranted and they sang.” he was born. The walk is partly based on his 7. Cross back to Burns Cottage masterpiece, ‘Tam o Shanter’, and at various side of the road and walk south. Turn into the first road on the points in our description we’ve included right and go past the gateway appropriate quotes. It’s possible to complete to the car park. A few metres from the entrance, in the field it in an hour and a half, but it’s more enjoyable next to the fence, is an old well. if you make a day of it. “And he was aware of a gay ladie As she was at the 1. Driving to Alloway from Ayr 3. You’re now on Tam o wellwashing.” on the B7024, turn left into the Shanter’s route. Keep the wood Rozelle estate. Enjoy a coffee in on your left till you cross the the tearoom and have a look at path to Belleisle House. About “Wi quaffing and laughing They the Tam o Shanter paintings by the middle of the 11th fairway, ranted and they sang.” Goudie before starting the walk. 135 metres away you’ll see the “This truth fand honest Tam meikle stane marker – o Shanter as he frae Ayr ae a stone marker beside the night did canter.” woodland path. 8. You’re now in Greenfield “And past the birks and meikle Avenue, which was laid out by 2. Leave the estate on foot stane where drunken Charlie Robert’s father, William Burnes. “A cotter howkin in a sheugh” the way you came in. Cross brak’s neck-bane” the road and turn right, go back past the entrance to the 4. A short distance into the 9. Cross the road, continue Belleisle estate and golf course, wood you’ll find a small path down Greenfield Avenue, turn and continue for about 80 which leads you to the Alloway left into Baird Road and then metres. Turn left through the Road, about 200 metres from first right into Cairn Crescent. wooden fence opposite the village smiddy. This was the A little further, on your left, you’ll Langlands Park. After the trees home of Agnes McClure, the see the ancient burial cairn midwife who delivered Burns. memorial. “The Gossip Keekit in his loof “And thro the whins and by quo scho:- ‘Wha lives will see the cairn the proof. This Waly boy will be Whare hunters fand the nae coof;’ I think we’ll ca’ him murder’d bairn” Robin. 5. About 70 metres further on you’ll come to Burns Cottage, where Robert was born on 25th January, 1759. Burns epitaph to his father “From scenes like these old Scotia’s grandeur springs that and walk about 60 metres, then makes her lov’d at home turn left towards the 15th tee of rever’d abroad” the golf course. You’ll reach the Slaphouse Burn, which Tam 6. The village hall across the would cross on his way home. road from the cottage has “By this time he was cross marvellous plasterwork the ford whare in the snaw depicting scenes from the the Chapman smoor’d” Burns Cottage 6 Alloway Walking Tour trails of discovery 7 10. Carry on round the crescent 13. Go left up Auld Nick’s “Ae spring brought off her A lodge house at the bottom and turn right and right again. view to the Tam o Shanter master hale, of the road marks the entrance When you come to the main Experience, which has an audio- but left behind her ain to the hotel. Its foyer contains road, Kirk Alloway is about 100 visual presentation of the full grey tail.” superb carvings of scenes from metres on your right. This was the ‘Tam o Shanter’ poem. It’s a Burns’s songs and poems setting for Tam’s sight of the good spot for lunch. 17. You can see Dutch Mill “Still o’er these scenes my witches dancing. “And drouthy neebors, upstream from the Auld Brig. mem’ry wakes “When, glimmering thro’ the neebors meet.” It’s where William Burnes lived and fondly broods with groaning trees, while he built his cottage. miser-care” Kirk Alloway seem’d in 14. As you leave, the Burns Now it consists of private a bleeze, Monument, Memorial Gardens apartments. Photography and text Thro’ ilka bore the beams were and Statue House are to the left, “Whase life is like a weel - John Skilling glancing with life-size statues of Tam o gaun mill.” And loud resounding mirth and Shanter, Souter Johnnie dancing.” and Nanse Tinnock. 18. The trail now leads to the “And at his elbow Souter Johnnie River Doon path, one of Burns 11. Just across the road is Auld His ancient, trusty, drouthy favourite spots. Walk over the Nick’s View, the lane beside cronie.” Auld Brig, then under the road Glossary Alloway Parish Church. Tam saw bridge on the private road to Fand: Found the devil up this lane from the 15. The Burns Monument is well Doonholm estate, and turn Ae: One east window of Kirk Alloway – worth climbing for the views right on the main road. Smoor’d: Smothered and the devil would have of the Auld Brig and the Go northwards past the Auld Birks: Birches Waly: Big, sturdy viewed Tam being pursued by surrounding countryside. It was Kirk and take the first left into Coof: Rogue, fool, the warlocks and witches. dedicated with full Masonic Shanter Way. Past the bollards useless person “A winnock-bunker in the east, honours in 1823. at the end, take the steps Cotter: farmworker who there sat auld Nick, in “The chiels that bigget me were on your left and you’re on has a cottage as shape o beast.” Masons prime.” the path. part of his contract Howkin: Digging “Aft hae I rov’d by bonnie Sheugh: Trench 12. Alloway Parish Church 16. Going out through the back Doon.” Bleese: Blaze was built in 1857. Its beautiful garden gate you’re on the old Winnock-bunker: stained glass windows include road from the mouth of the 19. The trail finishes at the Window recess a memorial to Burns. Doon to Maybole over the Auld Belleisle House Hotel, set in a fine Drouthy: Thirsty Brig o Doon. This is where Tam’s Neebors: Neighbours “For sweet consolation to park. Follow the path as it leaves Souter: Cobbler Church I did fly.” grey mare Meg lost her tail to the river, cross Greenfield Road Nannie the witch. and go down to the left. Kirk Alloway Brig o Doon 8 Wandering Wild trails of discovery 9 Explore spectacular coast and countryside, Upland Ayrshire This circuit leaves the sea air with plenty of walking opportunities and behind and takes you inland to wildlife for the eagle eyed. All routes can be explore the more remote parts of upland Ayrshire and the River driven in half a day but it’s more enjoyable Ayr Gorge.