Location:
Troon
Map: Lochs and Glens South NN7B (£6.99); Lochs and Glens Official Guidebook RB28 (£6.99)
Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Time: 1.5 hours
Terrain: cyclepath, quiet road section, dirt and gravel trails
Starting from Troon, on National Cycle Network Route 7, you can join the Smugglers' Trail on the old beach trail or further along at the junction with Wrack Road. From there the trail is reasonably well signed and easily followed.
Wrack Road takes you to the remains of Crosbie Kirk and from there past the woods that have covered the remains of Crosbie Castle. It then meanders through the site of the former Fullarton House.
The route continues through Fullarton Woods and joins the B746, straight through Loans.
Keep your eyes peeled for the right-hand turn off the B746 and on to the minor back road through Collennan, which turns to a dirt and gravel trail, on to Collennan Reservoir and the Aught Wood.
From here it is more demanding dirt and gravel forest trails that demand a level of skill and are best suited to hybrids or mountain bikes. Aught Wood merges into Dundonald Wood into the Glen and finally leads you into Dundonald and the terrific castle and visitor centre.
You could also continue through Dundonald Wood into Beech Wood and the remains of Auchen Castle which is a short extension of the trail.
Visit routes2ride.org.uk.
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