Walk 129 – Ayrshire Coastal Path: Ardrossan to Portencross (6.5 miles)

Facing Ardrossan Harbour and with your back to the residences on Mariner’s View, turn right (North East) to walk round the edge of the harbour. At the end of the terraced apartments, continue ahead (West) around a grassy mound with some sculptures on it, circling back on yourself at the other side. Turn left (North) to follow the harbour wall towards the (unpleasant-looking) North Shore Future Development Site. As you approach the perimeter fencing, turn left (West) to follow a trodden earth footpath around the perimeter of the site, admiring the views out to the Firth of Clyde on your left-hand side. As this path runs out, find a suitable place beyond the rocky embankment to drop down onto the beach at Ardrossan North Bay. For this next section stay on the sandy beach all the way to The Waterside restaurant and Caravan Park – 4km. Just beyond The Waterside, Ayrshire Coastal Path marker posts lead you onto a sandy and grassy path to avoid a rocky area of coastline. At Seamill, cross a footbridge over the Kilbride Burn and resume along the beach for 500m, passing behind the Seamill Hydro Hotel. At the southern end of West Kilbride Golf Course, come off the beach onto a high-level footpath which goes around Ardneil Bay (or continue along the beach if you prefer) for 1.8km. As you reach the north end of Ardneil Bay, there is a short walk across the pink sand and pebble beach to reach a kissing gate which leads onto a field. Follow a rough path across the seaward edge of the field to a second kissing gate. Go through the kissing gate – you are now in Portencross car park.