Four Lochs, a Castle and some Forest
9 people attending
1 place left
Discover the hidden treasures of wild South Ayrshire with this circular walk!
Our circuit will take us past Lochs Doon, Finlas, Bradan and Riecawr and along the Carrick Forest Drive (a track only open to motor vehicles during the summer months, but open to walkers and cyclists all year round). We will pass Loch Doon castle - thought to have been built by Robert the Bruce in the 13th century originally on an island in the Loch, before being re-erected stone by stone on the shores of the loch in 1935.
Although 14 miles in length, the walk is quite straightforward, following good forest trails for much of the route.
Dogs: The walk is suitable for dogs, which must be kept under control at all times, particularly near livestock.
Photos: taken by the leader on a recce of the walk in September 2022 and free for others to use.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch and some snacks
Food & drink
Bring a packed lunch and ensure you also have plenty of water and spare food in your rucksack.