Walk 44 – Kilmaurs & Knockentiber Loop – 7.3 miles

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This walk starts in Dunsmuir Park housing estate in Kilmarnock and is mainly along quiet country roads, with one section across grassy farmland. It takes in the villages of Kilmaurs and Knockentiber before returning to Dunsmuir Park via part of the #73 National Cycle Route.

  Roadside parking available on residential streets just off John Walker Drive, Kilmarnock (KA3 1NE). Local bus service stops on Western Rd or Hill Street, a short walk from the start point. Kilmarnock bus and train stations are approx 1 mile away.

Kilmaurs & Knockentiber

WALK REPORT: 26th April 2016

Last week while doing the Dunsmuir Park and Knockentiber Loop with my friend Lynsey, we noticed a way-marker for Kilmaurs and I have been keen to try out the route ever since. Tonight was the night!

Before setting off I calculated a loop we could do at approx 7 miles, although I wasn’t entirely sure where the ‘Kilmaurs’ sign was going to lead us exactly in the village, because according to my maps the road didn’t exist at all…..  

We certainly didn’t expect to be crossing farmland! When we reached the end of the road at the farm we saw a track leading into a field and were both very unsure. But after checking around there didn’t appear to be any other way to go past so we decided to give it a bash knowing we could always turn back if it didn’t seem right.

When we got to the other side of the field and there was a kissing gate I knew we had gone the right way. Apart from the fact that there is little in the way of a path, the other reason I believe this isn’t a commonly used track is that there were very jaggy bushes growing into the kissing gate, which made for an uncomfortable passing through it! For me anyway…. Lynsey decided to climb over the metal gate instead (I do have a photo but that wouldn’t be nice!)

This definitely felt like a much longer walk than the one we did together the week before. I guess partly because it was…. 3.5 miles longer to be exact! But also because it was so bitterly cold!! Despite having full length thermals on top and bottom plus a t shirt, a fleece and a hoodie, it took me a couple of hours to heat up after I got home. My sister would tell me we obviously weren’t walking fast enough, but at an average speed of 3.3 mph (according to my tracker), I’d say we had a pretty good pace going!

Kilmaurs6
Sun beginning to set as we neared the end
Kilmaurs5
Good old Arran!

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