Outdoor Pursuits:
Muirkirk has the feeling of a remote community but is
on the main route to Ayr from the M74 at Douglas. The walks
illustrated on the Muirkirk map give a flavour of the industrial
and social history of the area, and the dramatic beauty
of the open countryside. Muirkirk is a thriving community
having received an award in the Scottish Community of the
Year awards for the third year running. The 1800 people
of Muirkirk have more than 35 organisations catering for
a wide range of interests.
Walking:
The River Ayr starts as an overflow from Glenbuck Loch
on the Ayrshire/Lanarkshire border and flows westwards for
67 km to enter the Firth of Clyde at Ayr. Throughout its
length, the River Ayr is of good quality. This large river
has a healthy population of game fish and runs of salmon
and sea trout.The River Ayr Way is a project, which will
provide an uninterrupted walk for the length of the river,
starting near Glenbuck, the land of Bill Shankley and the
Glenbuck Cherrypickers, through the parish of Muirkirk towards
the sea.
For serious exploration of the area we recommend that you
obtain a good quality map such as the Ordnance Survey Explorer
Map 328 and 327. For more energetic walkers you could detour
from the Sanquhar Road Walk mentioned on the map and turn
right to walk up Wardlaw Hill to the Baird monument on top.Around
Muirkirk you will find many remnants of bygone days, disused
railway lines, evidence of mining, cairns, standing stones
and memorials.From the starting point on the map you could
walk west 1.5 miles to Upper Wellwood to visit the Martyrs
Grave where William Adam is buried (see History).Just over
2 miles south- west
of Muirkirk just north of the A70 where it meets the disused
railway is Cameron's Stane and monument. This marks the
spot where Covenanter Richard Cameron fell at the Battle
of Airds Moss in 1680. 3 miles east of Muirkirk on the A70
is Glenbuck. This small town was the home of Bill Shankly
the football legend. It is also the source of the River
Ayr.
Visit
The River Ayr Way website
Fishing:
Fishing is available on the River Ayr and Greenock Water.
Salmon, seat trout, brown trout and grayling can be fished
for in the area.click here for details of fishing locations
around Muirkirk.
Golf:
There is a golf course at Muirkirk near the starting point
for the walks. For more information on the course, prices
and contact details click
here.
Birdwatching:
The county of Ayrshire is on the west of Scotland, south
of Glasgow. It has a long coastline on the Firth of Clyde,
making it particularly good for wetland birds. The main
population centres (Ayr, Irvine, Ardrossan, etc) are also
on the coast, with the exception of Kilmarnock in the centre.
In the south the land rises with moorland and forestry being
the main habitats. Elsewhere the county is predominantly
agricultural.
We have also had sightings of Hen Harriers.
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