Photographs of the Town of Irvine and surroundings on the Ayrshire Coast of Scotland

Horse riders on beach from Irvine to Troon on the Ayrshire Coastal Path

Horse riders

on the Ayrshire Coast Beach

between Irvine and Troon

Signpost at Irvine

on the Ayrshire Coastal Path

Ayrshire Coast at Ardrossan from Beach at Irvine

Beach at Ardrossan

Windfarm at Ardrossan

on the Ayrshire Coast

Hills of Arran

from Ardrossan

IRVINE TO TROON WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Location: Ayrshire
Map: OS Landranger Sheet 70
Distance: 6 miles ( 10km )
Time: 3 hours
Grade: Easy coastal walk

Thr only predictable aspect of coastal walking is its unpredictability. There are days when this normally easy walk is impossible, when the scene is one of elemental fury, with huge waves, driven by gale-force winds, smashing into the shore.
However in fine conditions much of the walk is on ﬁrm sand which is a delight to have under your feet. Out to the west across the water iss the unmistakeable outline of Arran. To your left as you walk along are high dunes which separate the walkers, joggers and horse riders on the beach from the golfers taking their own form of recreation just inland. The walk passes two courses - Western Gailes and Barassie - part of the chain of links courses on this coast.
Troon itself is worth exploring. It has a busy harbour and marina and a wide choice of places to refuel. And if you're in the mood and the day is good you can, of course, carry on walking, following the Ayrshire Coastal Path on to Prestwick, Ayr and beyond.
Back in Irvine, the Scottish Maritime Museum has curious exhibits including old boats. Don't miss David Annand‘s statue of The Carter and His Horse. A notice explains that Irvine was once a busy port and much of the cargo handled there, especially coal mined locally, was brought by carters using horses. The horses today are on the beach for leisure rather than at the quayside working, but the weather is as important to us taking our recreation today as it was to the ships plying out of ports like Irvine in the past.

Route:

Start and finish at Irvine Railway Station.
Walk down Montgomery Street and Harbour Street.
At the Ship Inn go left across the grass to the Magnum Leisure Centre.
Pass the centre and follow the path round the pond.
At its far left corner take the path leading to the stone dragon.
Walk down and through the dunes on to the beach.
Follow the beach S for 4km to Barassie.
Follow a grass path ( signed Ayrshire Coastal Path ) and later join a tarmac cycleway into Troon.
Go left at Morrisons, right at the T-junction and left into Church Street.
Take the second left ( St Meddan’s Road ) up to the station for the train back to Irvine.