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On this walk you will pass the park’s iconic waterfall, the (relatively) new pinetum, graveyard of Lord Howard De Walden, the stone lions, the Dean Castle itself and the deer park. A scenic and popular woodland walk!
Buggy friendly walk (one steep uphill section)
Dog-friendly walk
Park at the main car park – Dean Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1XB
Route: Start the walk from the far end of the main car park, next to the river. Follow the footpath alongside the Kilmarnock Water, reaching the stone bridge and waterfall at the top. Here you will be at a crossroads. Take the earth track straight ahead, continuing into the woods and uphill to the pinetum. Turn left at the end of the path and left again to circle round behind the pinetum. Ahead are the graves of the 8th Lord Howard de Walden, his wife Margherita, and the angel memorial to his mother, Blanche. Exit the graveyard and follow the path on your right leading downhill and emerging at the stone lions. Turn right to walk along the grass (can be muddy) and join up with a footpath. Turn left here towards the castle. At the end of the path turn right to pass the deer park and continue straight to return to the parking area.
WALK REPORT: 1st January 2017
Starting the New Year as I mean to go on….. with a walk :-) Funnily enough, on this very same day last year I was also in the Dean Park with my children, albeit doing a different route. Obviously a popular choice with me! Dean Castle County Park is much loved by the people of Kilmarnock. We are proud to have such a fantastic environment in which to spend time.
Other routes you may enjoy at Dean Castle Country Park:
1) 0.6 miles (Start at Assloss Road – woodland walk to castle then along river, passing play park, animal farm & duck pond)
2) 2.3 miles (Start on Glasgow Road – countryside walk into Dean Park then woodland river walk)
3) 4.7 miles (Three parks loop)
Gillian's Walks 
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