Section 2: Portpatrick to Sanquhar

Continuing in a clockwise direction, the SWC300 leaves Portpatrick to travel the west coast into South Ayrshire.

It would be easy to rush north along the A77, imagining that the only attraction is the view of the omnipresent island Aisla Craig. It is a mesmerising sight in the Firth of Clyde but there is so much more to this area.

On a whim, I followed signposts for settlements and beautiful beaches, such as Ballantrae, Girvan, Maidens (past Trump Turnberry) and Dunure.

From Croy Shore, another stretch of sand, I walked along the coastline, enjoying wide-sweeping views of historic clifftop Culzean Castle, Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran in the distance.

The landscape becomes increasingly rugged with high hills on one side and a sandy-rocky shoreline on the other. Just before the seaside town of Ayr, I turned easterly away from the coast to reach Alloway.

The village is the famous birthplace of the poet Rabbie Burns and at attractions such as Burns Cottage and Burns Birthplace Museum tell the story of his life and works.

It was the chance to visit new and lesser-visited places that I relish most about the SWC300. Driving from Alloway through glorious rolling hills and moors I discovered two beautiful conservation villages, Kirkmichael and Straiton, before reaching another village, Dalmellington. Nearby is the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, set on a hilltop on the edge of the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park.

I considered staying a while to gaze at the starry night-time sky but dinner and a welcoming country hotel at Sanquhar beckoned.

● Dunskey Castle

● Electric Brae

● Varyag memorial at Lendalfoot

● Hike from Straiton to a hilltop obelisk memorial

● Loch Doon Castle