Irvine New Town Trail facts for kids

The Irvine New Town Trail is a super fun path in Irvine, Scotland. It's perfect for riding your bike or going for a walk! This path is about 19 kilometers (or 12 miles) long. Lots of people, including dog walkers and cyclists, enjoy using it every day.

Discover the Irvine Trail

The Irvine New Town Trail is a big loop, so you can start and end anywhere you like! It's like a giant circle around the town. Let's imagine we're starting from the Rivergate Centre, a main shopping area in Irvine.

A Journey Along the Rivers

If you follow the trail clockwise, you'll first walk or cycle right next to the River Irvine. You'll pass through a lovely green area called Irvine's Low Green. The path then heads north, running alongside a railway line. You'll see the Towns Moor and even a special place for wildlife called the Garnock Floods wildlife reserve.

Next, the trail follows the River Garnock as it goes towards Kilwinning. You'll pass through areas like Woodwynd and Blacklands. At this point, the Irvine Trail separates from another path called the Ayrshire Coastal Path.

Crossing Rivers and Old Railways

The trail then crosses the River Garnock. It uses the route of an old railway line that used to go to a coal mine called Doura colliery. This old railway was part of the Ardrossan Railway. After crossing, the path follows another river, the Lugton Water, heading east.

Fun at Eglinton Country Park

Following the Lugton Water brings you to Eglinton Country Park. This park is a really popular spot for outdoor activities like picnics, playing, and exploring. It also has a lot of history, including the ruins of Eglinton Castle. It's a great place to stop and relax!

The Trail Continues

After Eglinton Country Park, the trail meets up with another part of the old Ardrossan Railway line, near Sourlie Wood nature reserve. You'll follow this old track south through an area called Girdle Toll. The path here goes through a cutting, which is like a ditch dug into the ground. This cutting used to lead to another coal mine called Perceton colliery.

Following More Waterways

The trail then runs beside the Annick Water. It first goes south through parks and countryside to the east of Bourtreehill. Then, it follows the river west through parkland between Broomlands and Dreghorn. Here, it uses another old railway track, which was part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. You'll pass the spot where the old Dreghorn railway station used to be.

Finally, the trail rejoins the River Irvine riverbank. It heads north, taking you right back to where we started, near the Rivergate shopping mall!

Part of a Bigger Network

The Irvine New Town Trail is also part of Scotland's National Cycle Network. This means it connects to bigger cycling routes! Specifically, parts of the Irvine Trail are also known as National Cycle Routes 7 and 73. So, you could even use this trail to start a much longer bike adventure!