Girvan to Maidens

This is a well way-marked route, entirely low-level and passes some of the most iconic sights in the area, including Ailsa Craig and Turnberry Lighthouse. Golf fans will love walking right across the middle of Trump Turnberry Golf Course!

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Ayrshire Coastal Path

Technical sheet

22282053
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.01 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 13 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description

(S) From Ainslie Park in Girvan head onto the promenade and walk North (with the sea to your left).

(1) After 1.8km just beyond a large kids play area, you'll arrive at a large fountain. Turn right (East) to walk through the car park towards the harbour.

(2) Continue along the edge of the harbour and past the RNLI Girvan Lifeboat Station, reaching a set of steps.

Go up the steps and onto Knockcushan Street. Turn left (East) and at the crossroads turn left again (North) onto Bridge Street.

(3) Take the first left (North West) onto a minor road.

(4) Turn left (South West) after only 100m to cross the River Girvan via Newton Kennedy Bridge.

At the other side of the bridge keep left (West) onto Newton Place, heading towards the shipyard

(5) Just beyond the Coastguard Station turn left onto a footpath beside a landscaped rock garden. Follow the footpath around the perimeter of it, the water on your left-hand side, to reach the car park for Girvan Golf Course after 350m.

Follow the path right (East) here to walk around the outside of the car park.

At the end of the footpath turn right to cross over onto a small street leading between some houses. Turn left (N) at the end of the street onto Golf Course Road.

(6) Continue along this road, which skirts the perimeter of the golf course, for 1km until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn left (North West) then after 200m turn left (North) to walk through Girvan Mains Farm.

(8) The next section is along a good farm track running parallel to the coast. About 1km along, shortly after passing the Girvan Waste Water Treatment Plant, the road begins to turn inland and a wooden marker post directs walkers left (North) onto the beach along a wrack road.

After approx 1km you will arrive at a field gate. Depending on the time of year there might be bulls in the field - if not you will be able to walk through this and the next field to arrive at Curragh Cottages. If livestock is present, you will need to go down onto the pebble beach at this point instead.

(9) At Curragh Cottages, you can either continue along the beach if the tide allows, or walk along the road in front of the cottages then along the edge of the field which you enter and exit via kissing gates at each end. Return onto the beach once out of the field.

(10) 1km beyond Curragh Cottages you will reach Dipple Burn. If the tide and depth of the burn allow, cross it and continue north on the beach. If the burn is not fordable follow the i...

(11) Continue north along the sandy beach for approx 1.7km to the Milton Burn, which flows out onto the beach at a large pipe. If the tide and depth of the burn allow, cross it and continue north on the beach. If the burn is not fordable follow the i...

Continue North on the sandy beach for 1.3km, Turnberry Lighthouse visible ahead.

(12) On reaching a rocky outcrop at the north end of the bay, turn inland and follow the Ayrshire Coastal Path way-markers North then East across Turnberry Golf Course and out onto the A719.

(13) Turn left (North) at A719 to walk along the roadside pavement for 1.2km to reach Maidens.

(14) Just past Hamilton Brothers car garage, turn left (W) down a lane which cuts through to Harbour Road. Cross the road and the car park, to find a footpath beside the water. Turn left along the footpath to reach Maidens Harbour, where this walk ends. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Ainslie Park, Girvan
  2. 1 : km 1.71 - alt. 3 m - End of Girvan Promenade
  3. 2 : km 2.13 - alt. 7 m - Steps
  4. 3 : km 2.31 - alt. 6 m - Church
  5. 4 : km 2.42 - alt. 4 m - Newton Kennedy Bridge
  6. 5 : km 3.01 - alt. 6 m - Girvan Golf Course car park
  7. 6 : km 4.21 - alt. 10 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 4.47 - alt. 12 m - Girvan Mains Farm
  9. 8 : km 5.77 - alt. 5 m - Road turns inland - continue along wrack road
  10. 9 : km 7.17 - alt. 3 m - Curragh Cottages
  11. 10 : km 8.16 - alt. 4 m - Dipple Burn high tide de-tour
  12. 11 : km 11.49 - alt. 5 m - Milton Burn high tide de-tour - wooden steps
  13. 12 : km 13.24 - alt. 3 m - Rocky outcrop at north end of bay
  14. 13 : km 14.52 - alt. 10 m - A719
  15. 14 : km 15.67 - alt. 7 m - Harbour Road
  16. E : km 16.01 - alt. 3 m - Maidens Harbour

Practical information

For more information and a route review visit Gillian's Walks

Transport

  • Car park at Ainslie Park, Girvan and at Maidens Harbour
  • Bus services between Girvan and Maidens
  • Train services to/from Girvan

Amenities

  • Public toilets at Ainslie Park in Girvan and at Maidens Harbour
  • Cafes and shops in Girvan and Maidens, tearoom at Balkenna approx halfway along route

Terrain
A mixture of surfaced promenade and minor roads, grassy paths, sandy beaches and field crossings (possibly muddy). Several stiles and kissing gates especially if following the tidal de-tours. Several sets of steps.

You can purchase the official Ayrshire Coastal Path guidebook from their website.

In the nearby area

Ailsa Craig
Isle of Arran
RNLI Girvan Lifeboat Station
Girvan Coastguard Station
Fields of Ayrshire tatties (springtime)
Grant's Whisky Distillery
Turnberry Lighthouse
Trump Turnberry Golf Course
Turnberry Castle - birthplace of Robert the Bruce
Maidens Harbour

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.