(Click for bigger view)Day Trip to the Smugglers Trail from Dundonald to Troon
on Saturday 8 August 2026
Map required is LandRanger 70 Ayr, Kilmarnock & Troon,
but you can view a useful map section below ....
This day trip will follow the Smugglers Trail from Dundonald to Troon. We did this route as a Weekday Walk in July 2024, and as it was popular then, I've decided to repeat it.
We'll take the bus from Troon to Dundonald Castle which takes about 35 minutes, so we'll meet at the bus stop for the No10 bus opposite the Harbour Bar in Templehill at 9.45am in time to catch the 9.56am to Dundonald.
Satnavs: KA10 6BH
Maps: GR NS 316311
w3w: ///imparting.display.goose
Cars can easily be parked in the side streets off Templehill near the Harbour Bar only a short distance from the bus stop. Templehill is a continuation of the South Beach road, beyond the traffic lights towards the harbour area of the town.
(Click for bigger view)
The Smugglers Trail is the route which was used by smugglers during the 18th century to move contraband goods from the beach at Troon to Dundonald, to be spirited away to the central belt. These goods were mainly tea, brandy, wine, rum and tobacco and were transported from the Isle of Man, where custom taxes were much lower, by wherry boat to Troon, where they were unloaded by small boats to the beach. As many as 500 horses would then be used to transfer these goods via the trail to Dundonald. Apparently Troon became the most efficient and extensive smuggling ring in the British Isles due to its ideal sheltered location.
The walk will start at the Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre where a coffee can be enjoyed before starting the walk. The beginning of the Trail is just behind the Visitor Centre at the Trail Information Board and follows the footpath with a children’s play park on the right-hand side and turns left into the woods. A clear path, well indicated with trail markers, is followed along to the edge of a reservoir after about 2km. At the end of the reservoir the path turns right and after a short distance turns left passing a disused quarry. The route then follows a minor road, then crosses the A78 via a footbridge and onto the A759. It continues along the roadside pavement to Loans where a snack could be had in the Old Loans Inn. Continue straight on beyond Loans on the A746 where after about 0.5km the trail turns right, indicated by a trail marker, to a farm gate where the trail turns right along a narrow path beside a field. From here the trail crosses a small bridge and continues straight ahead through the woods and grounds of Fullerton House, then crosses Monktonhill Road and follows a signposted track past Lochgreen Hotel to eventually reach the Prestwick-Troon cycle track. At this point the Trail crosses the railway bridge slightly to the left and carries on across the golf course to the beach which is then followed back to Troon. On reaching Troon centre there are many opportunities for refreshments of all sorts, including excellent ice cream, before returning to the start point.
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The route in total from Dundonald is about 12km (7.5miles) and is almost level with a couple of minor inclines, and likely time is about 3-3.5 hours depending on any stops. If thought necessary, a bus could be caught from Loans back to Troon. I've done this route a number of times and always found it very enjoyable, with the exception of one very wet windy walk along Troon beach which hopefully will not be repeated!
If you would like to go on this day walk, please email me by Friday 7 August.
Ian Moffatt, Coastal Walk Organiser
m: 07745 229076
