Ayr Walks

Walk from Belleisle Park, Ayr 8.4 km / 5.2 miles

Start Belleisle Park - River Doon - Millenium Bridge - Greenan Castle - Alloway Burton cycle path - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum - Poet's Path - Alloway Village - Belleisle Park

Mostly traffic free paths and easy going. This walk leaves the park, passes alongside the River Doon to the shore, crosses over the Millenium Bridge and heads towards Greenan Castle on the NCN7 cycle path with great views to Arran. The route then crosses Dunure Road (take care here) and follows the Alloway Burton cycle path until you see a wooden bridge over the path. Turn sharp right before the bridge up a slope towards Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (cafe and Scots Wa-Hey playpark). Then walk along the Poet’s Path with a giant Timorous Beastie and through Alloway village. On leaving the village look out for the path on the left into Belleisle Park and cross over the golf course to the car park. The restored conservatory and walled gardens are well worth a visit.

View route map here

Burns Trail, Alloway 2.1 km / 1.3 miles

Start Burns Cottage - Poet's Path - Alloway Auld Kirk - Burns Monument and Garden - Brig o'Doon - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum - Poet's Path - Burns Cottage

A short walk around Robert Burns birthplace. You can buy tickets to view both the cottage and Burns museum at Burns Cottage and at the main Museum on Murdoch’s Lone. Starting from the car park at the cottage where Burns was born in 1759, go along Alloway village main street to view the front of the cottage. Retrace your steps back past the car park, straight through the mini roundabout. Enter Poet’s Path on the LHS. Just past the Timorous Beastie turn right along a short gravel path to the main road. Cross the main road and walk towards Alloway Parish Church. The Auld Alloway Kirk is across from this. Cross the main road again and head into Burns Monument and Gardens. Keep to the RHS of the gardens to a gate down some steps. This gives access to Brig o’Doon. Return to the garden and pass through a small gate at the top RHS of the garden which gives access to the rear of the main museum. After visiting the museum, walk out the front, cross the road and over a wooden bridge to Poet’s path. Retrace your steps back to the car park.

View route map here and a longer 3.8 mile trail on Gillian’s Walks 

Blue Bonnet Trail Ayr to Alloway 7.2 km / 4.5 miles

Another Robert Burns themed trail, this time starting in Ayr. Look out for waymarker signs with a blue bonnet on a white background. The easiest way to follow this trail is to download the Ayr Through the Ages app which will highlight the many interesting features as you follow this route.

More information on Gillian’s Walks