Current Access

A lack of safe walking and cycling options 

The communities, businesses and attractions between Ayr and Girvan are mostly only accessible by car or bus. This includes villages (Dunure, Maidens, Turnberry), leisure businesses (Craig Tara, Heads of Ayr Farm Park, numerous holiday parks, hotels, cafes and restaurants), castles (Greenan, Dunure, Culzean), harbours, employers (William Grant Distillers, Nestle, FMC Biopolymer, farms) and more. There are a few narrow footpaths linking some communities, but they are mostly alongside 60mph roads.

There is a lack of walking and cycling infrastructure linking these places.

Walking

Walkers can follow the magnificent Ayrshire Coastal Path (ACP), but this is not suitable for wheeled users and some sections are not accessible during high tide. The ACP, developed and maintained by volunteers, provides an excellent opportunity to explore the scenic splendour of this coastline and to help understand the need for The Culzean Way. Find out more here

Cycling

Cyclists can follow the scenic, but busy and high speed coastal roads. National Cycle Network route 7 (NCN7) is on the 60mph Dunure Road from Doonfoot until it turns off to head up towards Browncarrick Hill and Maybole. The coastal roads are hilly with blind bends and although experienced cyclists ride here, it is not suitable for families with young children.

Update: In 2020 Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity that develops and manages the UK National Cycle Network, removed the on road section of NCN7 between Doonfoot and Browncarrick Hill from the NCN as it was deemed unsafe for an unaccompanied 12 year old (one of Sustrans new standards for the NCN).