Читать книгу The Ayrshire and Arran Coastal Paths онлайн

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Go through the gate to continue onto a path that becomes grassier with Penderry Hill rising to the right. Windswept moorland is all around but as two standing stones are passed the views west to Kintyre (and Ireland on very clear days) are superb. It is here that the first real views of the rugged Ayrshire coastline can be enjoyed. As the track descends quite steeply to the north it bears right then flattens out, with gorse bushes to the right and a dry stone dyke to the left, before it passes through another wooden gate.

Two more wooden gates are passed on this track. After going through the second, stick to the main track and ignore the indistinct path descending to the left, which leads to Portandea. Go through two more gates to reach a junction of dry stone dykes. From here the level grassy track leads through mixed trees of hawthorn and gorse and there are expansive views that provide the first look at Ailsa Craig, its wonderful profile a mainstay throughout much of the route.

The wonderful, distinctive profile of Ailsa Craig rises out of the Firth of Clyde, seen here from Ballantrae