The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Hit the trail in Ayrshire with all of life’s luxuries
FOR a walking holiday, there are few countries more generously enriched than Scotland. Whether you’re after a challenging walk amongst the wild surroundings of our mountains, a gentle amble in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery or a refreshing stroll along a sandy beach, you can find it all on your doorstep.
The Ayrshire Coastal Trail is a great example of one of Scotland’s Great Trails, a network of longdistance routes across the country that can be fragmented and tackled according to ability level.
It takes in a stunning route running 100 miles from Glenapp and Skelmorlie, set against the backdrop of the mountains of Arran from across the Firth of Clyde.
There are numerous options for accommodation given that the trail runs through the towns of Stranraer and into Ayr, and here you could take the opportunity to rest your weary legs with a taste of luxury at the Fairfield House Hotel.
The 4-star lodgings are complimented by the excellent cuisine on offer in the hotel’s award-winning Martin’s Bar & Grill, perfect for recharging the batteries after a productive day of walking.
For those looking for a gentle stroll that you can explore over a weekend or complete in a day, then over in Argyll you’ll find the Crinan Canal walk, that takes you from the village of Crinan to Ardrishaig. It is an almost
ADVERTISING FEATURE
level walk, and is especially good for bird-watching.
Along the way, it takes in the pretty locks at Cairnbaan, offering a perfect opportunity to stop in at the Cairnbaan Hotel, situated at Lock 5 about half-way along the 9-mile canal route.
A participant in the Seafood Trail, you’ll naturally find exquisite seafood here, but they have also long been champions of the finest locally-sourced ingredients, such as tender lamb from nearby Barbreck Farm or succulent pork from Teritchigan farm.