I start todays walk at the attractive seaside village of Ballantrae. Apparantly the whole Ayrshire coastline has a history of smuggling. Ballantrae celebrates this with a Smuggling Festival every year in August.

The village has a pretty seafront with a little harbour at the end. The route nortwards follows a busy road with lots of lorries making there way to and from the ferry terminals. The route takes me northwards along the road with occasional attempts at walking along the rocky beach.

One place I pass that has an interesting history is Sawney Beans Cave. He is reported to have been a mass murderer and a cannibal who lived in the cave. He and his wife used to murder and rob travellers passing along this stretch of coast. I’m glad I am not passing in the dark.

All along this coast I constantly have a view of Ailsa Craig, a volcanic island about 10 miles off the coast and about 2 and a half miles round its base.. It is home to a large colony of gannets which is managed by the RSPB.

As it’s a clear day I can also seeIreland and The Isle of Arran, a popular holiday destination with ferries that sail there from Ardrossan.

As I approach Girvan it starts to rain, not much at first, but I was a bit slow in getting my wet weather gear on and end up getting soaked. I end up changing into a dry set of clothes in the Public Conveniences, what a way to finish a days walk.