We walked this route on a rainy September Sunday, which sadly hampered the views, though on a clear day there should be excellent vistas of the surrounding countryside. Walking south from Kilmarnock, it takes a little while to get out of the town, but this section is well paved and simple to navigate. Once past the bypass, the route is much nicer on country lanes that roll downhill to Mauchline....

Cressida P

This route works fine as a connecting route if you're wanting to combine it with others for a longer walk, but sadly isn't that charming as a standalone walk....

Cressida P

We walked this route in mid-September on a wet afternoon which sadly hampered visibility, but the route is easy to navigate....

Anna-Fleur Rawlinson

On the whole, we had reasonable lines of sight and would cross ahead of bends – however walkers need to be attentive at all times, especially in the event of poor weather hampering visibility. The final section into Kilmarnock is safer, following pavemented roads and easy to navigate....

Anna-Fleur Rawlinson

Due to low cloud, we didn't get much of the views beyond this point(!) but the going was steady and easy on a very quiet rural road, with verges if necessary. The decent into Mauchline is equally easy and straightforward, with a number of food options in the town....

Sarah

As the first reviewer notes, there is a long portion of this route out of Stewarton that relies on walking on a well used road, however we found the majority to be straight enough to give reasonable lines of sight, and were able to hear well enough to cross ahead of bends and use the verges where necessary. Not a relaxing experience, but we did not feel more in danger than any other non-car road user. Once this has been navigated, the last section into Kilmarnock works fine, following pavemented roads....

Sarah

Review of Slow Ways route Irvkil two (Irvine to Kilmarnock). I walked this route in two sections: the first from Dreghorn to Kilmarnock at the end of May 2024 and the second, Irvine to Dreghorn, two months later....

wellchoughed

Review of Slow Ways Route Kilmau 2 (Kilmarnock to Mauchline two). The route begins in Kilmarnock town centre and initially follows the Kilmarnock Water to and through Howard’s Park. There are several farm gates to negotiate along this section but after about ten minutes, the road is regained. There is then an easy section, although along a slightly busier road which requires some care, until the Mauchline National Burns Memorial comes into view....

wellchoughed

We left Kilmarnock through shopping streets and then crossed the river to walk through the park rather than along the busy main road, a short detour which I felt was worthwhile....

Mary Oz

I think that the section through Carnell Estates near the middle of the route is through the private gardens and shooting grounds of an exclusive hospitality business. See https://www.carnellestates.com/. Certainly the gate at the western end appears to be closed to mere walkers, I've uploaded a screenshot from Google Maps street view....

Mary Oz

The route leaving Irvine is complicated by some building work going on next to the river, but once you reach the river it is quite easy to follow....

Mary Oz

A good route but the original route doesn't show enough detail, particularly at the Irvine end, and also near Dreghorn. I had to double back several times. Also, it is so loosely plotted that correct plotting adds at least half a mile to the distance....

Mary Oz

Can't walk on the verge all the way due to vegetation, high banking & drainage ditches so some points it's necessary to walk along the road. It would be a problem for someone of limited mobility, those afraid of traffic or who don't like walking on roads....

Allan Hainey

The section of the route from Colennan to Dundonald is particularly nice and is part of the official Smugglers Trail walk which runs from South Beach through Fullerton Woods and the vilage of Loans before merging with this route....

marysiak

Very easy surfaced path along old railway line. Currently blocked at Knockentiber by bridge repairs but you can scramble round that....

David Brazier