On-street parking available on Munro Avenue, Kilmarnock (KA1 2NT). If arriving via public transport I suggest starting the walk on Irvine Road (step 3 in the route description) at Annanhill Park where there are bus stops. Alternatively, Kilmarnock train and bus stations are 0.7 miles away from start point.
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Start by walking along Munro Avenue towards the crossroads at Bonnyton. At the traffic lights turn right onto Bonnyton Road then take the first left onto Annanhill Avenue. At the end of the road turn left onto Irvine Road, cross with care and enter Annanhill Park on your right. Continue straight, ignorning the path to your right. The footpath splits with the right side going along a walled garden area and the left heading into a housing estate – take the left, emerging onto Cedar Road. Continue along Cedar Road past Annanhill golf course then turn right at the bottom to cross over onto a minor road next to Mount House. Turn right and continue into Moorfield housing estate. Turn left to cross over onto Old Rome Drive and at the roundabout turn left onto Dumfries Drive. This will take you out to Moorfield roundabout next to The Cotton Mill restaurant. Turn right to walk along B7064. At the roundabout turn right onto Irvine Road, cross over carefully and take the first left before reaching the new houses (at time of writing there was a ‘road closed’ sign). The top end of this road is blocked off and a little scrambling over a pile of rubble was required at the time of my visit. Turn left on Bonnyton Road and continue uphill, taking the minor road on your right just before Bonnyton Road ends. Follow this along, over the railway and further on until you reach the play park at Dunsmuir Park. Cross through the gate and onto John Walker Drive. Turn right and continue along John Walker Drive, emerging onto Western Road. Turn right here to return to Munro Avenue.
WALK REPORT: 29th June 2016
Annanhill – best known to me for it’s play park! However there are footpaths leading off places I knew not where, and recently I have become more and more keen to explore some of them. My friend LJ had mentioned to me in the past that she and her family had walked through Annanhill to Moorfield before and so this evening she was enlisted to show me how! It always fascinates me how someone (me) can have lived in the same town most of her life and yet there are still places which remain undiscovered. I also love to learn how places all link together: plenty of “ahhh so that’s where this path goes” moments!
Similarly, I had only ever visited the Grange estate when taking my son to Little Tiger Cubs at the Grange Academy and I had never ventured further. I really liked the peacefulness of the area and there are some really nice houses within the estate.
Moorfield is a newer housing estate and one I have driven around plenty of times admiring the homes. There are some massive ones in there! Cue a chat about how much they must cost and what our dream homes will look like 🙂 Once upon a time I would have dreamt of one of Moorfield’s double garage, 5 bedroom, stone-fronted properties. Over the past 7 months I have thought a lot about what my passions are and can say with confidence that my dream home is a beautiful country cottage with ivy growing up the exterior walls and lots of outdoor space, with a willow tree in the garden. Inside will be practical but quirky with a French country/vintage feel. Love it!
While walking along the main road at Moorfield we passed this huge Giant Hogweed plant which I just couldn’t ignore. It looked so attractive but at the same time is so evil, knowing what it is capable of doing to human skin. I have since learned that you can actually report any sightings of these to the local council who should then take action to remove it. I have seen them in so many places since late spring!
The walk up Bonnyton Road towards Knockentiber was pleasantly quiet with just the odd car passing us. It is a gentle uphill stretch which affords lovely views over the area.
The final section from here into Dunsmuir Park is one that was familiar to us both from previous walks: a very quiet country road with farmland all around (one part particularly pungent as you pass large stacks of manure!)
