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DAY 1

Glenapp to Ballantrae

StartGlenapp NX 074 746FinishKennedy Mausoleum, Ballantrae NX 083 824Distance8½ miles (13.5 km)Time4 hoursTerrainThis route is on mostly rugged moorland tracks and paths, which can be indistinct on occasion and sometimes boggy. A couple of sections are also quite steep. The initial climb from Glenapp is through forest before farm roads and a short section of pavement beside the busy A77 lead into Ballantrae.MapsOS Landranger 76; OS Explorer 317RefreshmentsThere is a shop and hotel in Ballantrae.TransportA regular Stagecoach bus from Ballantrae to Stranraer stops at Glenapp. See Appendix C for details.

The first day of the Ayrshire and Arran Coastal Paths is a short one. Glenapp to Girvan in a single day is feasible but it is long, whereas Glenapp to Ballantrae provides a short but memorable first day and guarantees fresh legs for the longer days ahead. An initial walk through forest climbs onto open moorland above Glenapp. Almost immediately you are struck by the rugged and remote nature of the coast, with much of it well away from any main roads. A good track descends through lovely Currarie Glen and then climbs steeply onto a cliff-top path towards Ballantrae providing magnificent views across Loch Ryan to Galloway and across the Firth of Clyde to Ailsa Craig, Arran, Kintyre and Ireland. Along this section the path becomes indistinct at times but the route is well waymarked when necessary. A singletrack road then passes through some farms (dogs should be kept on leads for the majority of this route) and the day ends at Ballantrae where a stroll around Kennedy Mausoleum is highly recommended. Ballantrae has a shop, a hotel and several B&Bs.