TERRAIN: Sandy and pebbly beach, woodland trails and tracks, surfaced paths and minor roads, grass. Several sets of steps (avoidable) and some hills. No stiles or gates.
Dog-friendly route
GETTING THERE: The walk begins at Croy Shore car park where free parking is available. There is no public transport to this point. Alternatively you could join the route starting from Culzean Castle Country Park (parking charges apply, local bus stops outside main entrance) or Goatsgreen Cottage (free car park). You might want to miss out the section along Croy Shore if starting at Culzean/Goatsgreen, and this shortens the walk by 2 approx miles.
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From Croy Shore car park walk down the ramp onto the sandy beach. Turn left (S) to walk along the beach.
After just over a mile come off the beach at some cottages which are situated right by the shore – Segenwell 1 & 2 – these are holiday cottages belonging to the National Trust for Scotland/Culzean Castle Country Park. Follow a woodland trail beyond the cottages, emerging on top of a large rock at a fantastic viewpoint of the castle.
Head back down onto the beach here and take the ramp up towards the Gas House (building with large chimney). The Gas House and adjoining cottage are worth visiting if open when you are there!
Take either the steps or the road to climb uphill. At the top, cut diagonally across the grassy area (there is a path) towards the castle. Go through the archway to arrive inside the castle courtyard. From the canons you will enjoy fine views across the Firth of Clyde and north along the beach towards Croy where you started your walk.
Leave this area via the archway beside the castle entrance – this takes you behind the castle. There are some steps* to your left – go down these and into the formal garden. Cut diagonally across the garden’s lawn heading towards the high stone castle walkway. There are some steps which take you up onto the walkway. Turn right at the top to head away from the castle and through the main entrance archway. [*To avoid the steps leave the area via the same archway you came in from, and walk across the castle walkway all the way to the end]
Turn left onto a red blaze footpath. This leads you along to another courtyard where you’ll find a cafe, toilets and gift shop. Exit this area via the gap between the cafe and toilets.
Keep to the left of the car park to begin crossing it and then turn left, following signs for Coach parking. On arrival at the Coach parking area turn right to enter another car park. Keep to the left edge of the car park until the very end where you will emerge onto a wide grassy area.
Normally a path is mown through the grass both along the left edge and diagonally across. Take either trail uphill to a gate. Go around the gate onto a gravel track. Turn left and follow the track a short distance to a surfaced road. Turn left on the road, coming off it again at a small cottage to pick up an attractive track heading into the trees (can be muddy).
Approx 500m along ignore a minor path on the right. The trail then turns sharp left. Continue along this peaceful track (full of wildflowers in summer) until you reach a crossroads with cobblestones underfoot. Turn left here. This track brings you out beside High Bowmanhill Cottage.
You’ll come to a triangular junction with a memorial cairn at the bottom of this road – turn left here. This road takes you downhill to a parking area beside Goatsgreen Cottage where there is a ramp onto the beach. Turn right (N) to walk along the beach back to where you started.
WALK REPORT – 14th August 2024
The Open Water Swim Instructor I was partnered up with had suggested Croy as a good dipping spot and so all that was needed was for me to come up with a short walk starting and finishing at the car park there. We had been tasked with delivering a Hike & Dip event being organised and subsidised by the Outdoor Partnership Ayrshire.
It turned out to be a huge success and such a good route that I have since used it several times for international visitors looking for “somewhere spectacular” to walk during their stay, as well as for other Hike & Dips.
It’s the variety of the terrain, the “wow” moment when you get to the castle viewpoint, the excitement when you realise you’re going right up to the castle, the sense of wonder on the return at the “back roads” you didn’t know were there! The fact that there are loos….. and a cafe…..
No need to worry about the state of the tide for this route. Low tide reveals slippery rocks covered in seaweed at some parts, so you’re better sticking to the softer sand at the landward side of the beach anyway. And in all but the highest high tides you’ll still have at least a metre of beach on which to walk. That said, I do have a certain love for this walk at low tide and on a calm day, when you are likely to see Grey Herons fishing in the sheltered bay, the glare of the sun on the smooth wet sand making them appear like they are standing on water.
Culzean once produced its own gas to use for lighting and heating, and there is an excellent exhibition inside the former Gas House complete with a life-sized model of the Gas Manager hard at work. If you are so inclined, you can leave fully informed about the process of turning coal into gas!
Then there is the iconic castle itself. Built in the late 1700s on the site of an ancient tower house, it became the main seat of the Kennedy family. Donated to the National Trust for Scotland in 1945 along with more than 500 acres of land, Culzean Castle & Country Park is now the jewel in the crown of the NTS, attracting over 200,000 visitors every year.
Leaving the flamboyance of this well-manicured site behind, it’s back to wilder country as the route takes you onto dirt tracks through woodlands teeming with wildflowers in the summer season. The views soon open up across farmland towards the Clyde. Which is where you are headed next, to complete the final section along on Croy Beach where your journey began.
