I am surprised that the Kintyre Way does not go to the lighthouse on the south-west corner of the peninsular. I decided that as I had walked all this way I was not going to miss it.
My route involved a seven mile slog down a single track road, I had plenty of cyclists who passed with a cheery hello and a shake of the hand. I even saw a Roe Deer on the road ahead of me but it didn’t hang around for the photo call.
For the last three year during the summer there has been a ferry service from Ardrossan to Campbeltown. This service is being run on a trial basis and is due to be reviewed this year. This is a lovely crossing that skirts the southern end of the Isle of Arran. If you are lucky it might also be doing a cruise and then it will take a longer route around the north of the Isle of Arran and then down the East coast of the Kintyre peninsular.
Campbeltown is the main town on the Kintyre peninsular which has an airport as well as a ferry terminal. It does not seem to be spoilt by tourism but there again needs to promote the good things about the town like the Distillery, Heritage Centre and Kintyre Way.
Irvine has quite a substantial shopping centre called the Riverside with a mall that spans the river into the main centre.
I leave Irvine to the west of the railway line by the football ground where my map shows a footpath but I could not find a route to the other side of the railway line. I met a lady on a bicycle with panniers who was trying to do the same thing. We both retraced our steps back and followed the road out of town.
Ayr is a fine seaside town with a good town centre and a two mile stretch of sandy beach. It also has a racecourse where the Scottish Grand National is run every year.
Scotland’s greatest poet, Robbie Burns was born close to Ayr at Alloway where he lived for the first seven years of his life. There is an interesting museum maintained by the Scottish National Trust.
Unfortunately I lost my favourite hat whilst walking through the park. It had ear pieces that kept me warm, it was like a comfort blanket. I even went back looking for it.
Today I set off back through the Country Park by the Visitor Centre in a courtyard by the Old Stables. I pass this and continue above the shoreline before making my way down to the beach.
I return to start my walk today bt the harbour at Girvan. The harbour itself seems quite busy with a boatyard catering for yachtsmen. I head alongside the river and I can not miss the clock tower, Auld Stumpy. It was part of the McMaster Hall which burnt down.
I cross over the bridge and walk along the other side of the harbour passing the Coastguard building. I pass the golf Course and follow the coast northwards, sometimes on a track and sometimes on the pebbly beach.
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.
As I have travelled around the Rhinns I seem to have passed through Stranraer several times but now it’s time to leave.
The old ferry port looks rather sad with all the parking area overgrown. The terminal must have provided many jobs for the locals at one point. Anyway, the site is now up for sale. What will it be next? a marina, a water theme park, who knows.
I thought I would give a plug to the wonderful campsite I have been staying at for the last few nights. It is the North Rhinns Camping at Leswalt, near Stranraer.
Kath and Rob have done a good job in setting up an idyllic woodland setting with clearings for individual pitches. They are keen on promoting the site as a quiet site and the facilities are clean and tidy.
Portpatrick is the Start or End point for the South Upland Way. This is a long distance 212 mile coast to coast walk to Cocksburnpath on the East coast.
I start today by following the path out of Portpatrick and along the coast to the lighthouse at Killantringan Bay where it then turns inland towards Stranraer. I follow the path until it crosses the road and this is where I part company with it.
Breaking free and paving my own way.
Mad dogs and Englishmen decide to walk the coast of Britain! I don't think I'm a mad dog but many think I'm a mad Englishman!
1 Year - 5000 miles
My challenge to change my life this year...
Coastalwalker.co.uk - walking around the British coastline, very SLOWLY.
Tony's walk around the Coast of Britain 