Hidden Gems of East Ayrshire

Free guided walks for East Ayrshire residents

Gillian’s Walks is collaborating with The Outdoor Partnership Ayrshire to bring residents of East Ayrshire a series of free guided walks across the region. Enjoy the great outdoors, discover new routes, reconnect with nature and invest in your wellbeing.

The walks take place one Tuesday per month between July and December 2026.

They will vary in distance, with some walks around 3-4 miles and others around 7-8 miles. Unless otherwise stated, all walks are graded easy in terms of terrain. We will be walking at a leisurely pace so that we can enjoy the scenery, with plenty of rest stops along the way when I’ll delight you with my “fun facts” about the area.   More details for each walk will be provided below. 

Places are limited so please register via the link below.

Dogs – for everyone’s comfort and to avoid distractions during the walk, we ask that dogs are not brought along even on a lead.

These walks have been made possible by the Scottish Government’s ‘Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund’ through CVO East Ayrshire Ltd. 

Walk Schedule

Details about each of the walks will be released gradually so come back regularly to check for updates! Currently bookable we have the following: 

Tuesday 14th July 2026 – New Cumnock

On this walk we will discover a scenic riverside trail and the local nature reserve, stopping at several points of interest relating to Robert Burns and local coal mining heritage. 

Starts: 10.30am New Cumnock Train Station

Distance: 8 miles

Finishes: approx 3pm New Cumnock Train Station

What qualifications and experience does Gillian's Walks have?

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Lowland Walk Leader

Outdoor First Aid (16hrs)

Nordic Walking Instructor

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Health Walk Leader

 

Community Nordic Walking Instructor

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Accredited Biosphere Guide

Scottish Walking Awards

Nominee 2021 & 2023

PFA volunteer award

Community Path Volunteer of the Year 2019

Ambassador

Official Walking Ambasssdor, Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance