Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire

9 miles/14 km

Hilly start and then flat

Train to Dalry from Glasgow/Kilwinning/Ardrossan/Largs twice an hour.

This is not a particularly interesting walk, I am the first to admit. I did it one day in February 2026. It is a suitable walk for the coldest, darkest months of the year. This walk also has a blend of steep hills (OK, one steep hill), farmlands, rivers and coastal plains. The scenery is not bad either.
The walk starts from Dalry train stop. Walk the Blair Road up through a housing estate and over the bridge crossing the new'ish Dalry bypass until you reach a crossroad after 1 mile/2 km. Take the road marked Whithorn Way on a blue walker signpost. You are still on the Blair Road. The road now becomes a bit lumpy with some small climbs through the forest. The lumps are replaced by a nice downhill section before you hit a pretty big, steep hill.



This hill is very steep as it turns first to the right and then to the left where the steepest part of the climb can be found. The road is more gentle after this before you end up at the National Cycle Path 7signpost for the path over the Garnock Viaduct.


Follow this path which ends up on this very impressive viaduct. No doubt the highlight of the walk.




The rest of the walk now follows the river and the National Cycle Path 7 signs. A pretty impressive river and a good river walk in itself. Despite of the signs, it's still a good idea to follow the map on your mobile phone too.



The National Cycle Path 7 signs takes you under the main roads between Ayr and Glasgow/Largs before a good tarmac path takes you first over the coastal plains and then down a river and then over a couple of bridges to the Irvine town centre and the Irvine railway station.

Trains back to Ayr/Kilwinning/Glasgow twice an hour.