Leisure

WALKING AND CYCLING

The Coalfield Access Project and The River Ayr Way

In October 2002, East Ayrshire published and launched an Outdoor Access Strategy. The vision for outdoor access developed from this strategy is “a series of well planned, coordinated and used path networks which will provide connections between communities, meet the social needs and health needs of communities, realise the area’s tourism potential, promote more sustainable transport choices and support economic and environmental regeneration”.

It was from this vision that the Coalfield SIP Outdoor Access Project was born. This £2.5 million project is for the implementation of 358km of path network by December 2006 and is East Ayrshire Council’s largest externally funded projects. Ayrshire’s mining past was the key to this project. It gave access to funding programmes aimed at the regeneration of the former coalfields and is supported by 13 key funders.

The project includes the development of 4 core routes –

The River Ayr Way - Opened in June 2006 by keen walker Fred Macaulay, the River Ayr Way is Scotland's first source to sea path network which passes through some of Ayrshire's most fantastic scenery making it a unique experience for walkers in Ayrshire. The route begins at Glenbuck, home of Bill Shankley and follows the river for 66km (44miles) to the sea at Ayr. The route passes through many local communities along the way. Each community that falls in to the catchment area of the River Ayr Way has its own unique path network with interpretation including Scotland’s first village audio tour in Muirkirk. Muirkirk has literally a rich ‘mine’ of history from religious rebellion to industrial revolution, from mining monks to Britain’s last pit ponies, from innovators to dissenters, from Burns-style poets to famous footballers. A new website is currently being developed about the River Ayr Way - www.theriverayrway.org

An information pack for the River Ayr Way is availalble for £3.99. Packs can be obtained from the Outdoor Access Unit, Dean Castle Visitor Centre, East Ayrshirte libraries or Ayr Tourist Information Centre. Call 01563 554753 for further details.

The Lugar Water which links Ochiltree and Drongan to the River Ayr as well as providing links around the beautiful Auchinleck Estate

The Scottish Coal Cycle Route will be another 66km route which will be in place by early 2007.

The Doon Valley Network which links the communities of Dalmellington, Patna, Waterside and Rankinston as well as providing links to important sites such as Loch Doon and the Galloway Forest. An information pack is available showing the routes in the Doon Valley. Call 01563 554753 for further details

These four routes encompass an area of 358km in the Coalfield area and so far has been devised and will continue to be developed by local people through community planing.

The Coalfield Access Project, now in its final year, will contribute to developing healthy and sustainable communities and providing routes which encourage people to walk and cycle instead of using a car. The network itself will benefit the people of Ayrshire as a whole as it aims to realise the tourism potential of the area and raise awareness and appreciation of much of our rich and varied natural heritage. The River Ayr Way is already proving to be a very popular attraction and has been walked by thousands of walkers and tourists already.

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