The walkers dream - SAP want The Culzean Way Become a reality!

Article via South Ayrshire Paths!

We have a dream, Imagine walking or cycling along the beautiful and rugged South Ayrshire coastline from Greenan Castle to Dunure.

And onwards to Culzean Castle and beyond to Maidens, Turnberry and Girvan. On an easy, attractive, safe and traffic free path that is suitable for all abilities and user types including young children, babies in prams and wheelchairs.

And stopping off for a well earned coffee, cake or lunch at Dunure Inn, Culzean Castle and Country Park or Turnberry Lighthouse. We, and everyone we have talked to so far, want to turn this dream into reality.

Current access to this coastline

At the moment walkers have two options to access this part of the coastline by foot.

The Ayrshire Coastal Path is a magnificent scenic route along or close to the beach. It is a remarkable achievement developed by volunteers of the Rotary Club of Ayr and maintained by their squad of ‘Pathminders’.

It’s a great way to explore this coast and well worth the effort, but walkers need to be reasonably fit and they need to plan ahead as some sections are not accessible when the tide is high. The other option is to walk along the grass verge of the Dunure Road – not recommended.

Cyclists need to follow the same 60mph Dunure Road with it’s hills, bends and fast traffic – not recommended for young children.

Between Ayr and Girvan there are settlements (Dunure, Maidens, Turnberry), many holiday parks, a farm park and Culzean Castle & Country Park. These are somewhat isolated – most are only accessible by car with limited options to explore the surrounding area by foot.

The proposed path will connect isolated coastal communities and businesses and make them accessible by all abilities. The aim is to create a path that will attract residents and visitors all year.

Lots of benefits!

If you’ve walked along this section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, you’ll know how attractive this coastline is, at all times of the year.

We have no doubt that if a path is created, the people will come and it will be popular.

An attractive route like this will encourage more residents and visitors to get outdoors. Communities and businesses along the route will benefit from increased trade e.g.

• NTS Culzean Castle and Country Park

• Links to NTS Robert Burns Birthplace Museum & Ayr communities

• Craig Tara Holiday Park

• Ten more holiday parks

• Heads of Ayr Farm Park

• Dunure Inn, cafe, harbour and castle

• Many B&B’s

• Maidens Wildings restaurant, cafe, harbour

• Turnberry Golf Resort & Lighthouse

• Dowhill Country Fare

• Girvan Quay Zone, harbour, cafes and restaurants

More info can be found with the SAP website below...

https://southayrshirepaths.org.uk/developments/the-culzean-way