Caldron hill view

Kelburn and Douglas Park 27km climb 370m a hard route to which can be added the Kaim quarry downhill to give a bit of an epic ride. Needs downhill skills and confidence on narrow off camber tracks.


Leave the station car park turning right along Cubrieshaw St, with the garage on your left.
Go right at Gateside St out of the town going straight on (left) at the island.
150m past the island turn right up toward Crosbie Main farm.
In 1km fork left up past the farm and in a further 300m pass the red brick water treatment building, through a gate and along the now rough track, passing a reservior as you cycle to the edge of the moor. Through the gate go left keeping near the wall ignoring the obvious quad track as it stats to clmb. In 200m fork gradually away from the wall climbing a little, go through a dip, follow a narrow muddy track which starts to climb steeply with a rut on the right. The faint narrow track turns left and eases a little but is tricky and narrow. It disappears but continue on the same line to a flatter area by a boulder. Contour left along the narrow tricky track along the side of Glentane hill, over an awkward ramp then a tricky loose descent to Glenburn at the east end of the reservior. Cross the burn push up the bank to a boulder on the right. Cycle out along the quad track to the road.

Go left down downhill 300m to a line of trees just before the trees leave the road to the right onto a landrover track.
Continue along this track for 1.5km beside the wall all the way to its end at a gate, through the gate , left 15m, through another gate, right along the wall 200m to another gate into the trees.
Go onto the track beyond the gate. If you keep left along the edge of the trees you can enjoy a short streach of singletrack.
In 250m admire the view of Largs over a gate but continue in the trees along some nice singletrack for another 300m where you must go over a stile (nice view a few paces left) cross a burn and go up to a gate (25m).
Cross the field diagonally down to a fence,over the fence at an improvised stile and down across the burn pushing a few metres up to the Fairlie Glen path.


A few metres downhill go through the metal gate on the right leading through Bourtrees to the Kelburn road, turn right following this track past Fairlieward where it becomes rough and descends. In 1.5km after a long straight with a nice view over the marina there is a sharp left bend, just beyond it to the right is a water treatment building, go up and round the left side of the building (narrow push) through a gate into the field in 200m climb right up between some crags (push) and out to the main road at a gate. Turn left 300m go into the picnic area. At the top is a gate onto the moor, follow the grassy track down to a bridge and left up to the viewpoint. From the viewpoint go north maintaining height then descend toward the cottage but turn sharp left along the wall cross the cottage road keep right away from the broad grassy track and descend the short little downhill in Douglas park (watch out for walkers).

At the main road turn left, left again at the traffic lights uphill before the sharp left bend go through the gateway into Kelburn and climb back to Fairlieward. Follow the track (not on OS map) through Fairlieward (or go round Fairlieward by the field) eventually the track leads to an open area, follow the tree line on the left (boggy and a push) for 250m coming to a better track beside a burn. Turn left, cross the burn and go through the trees keeping left of the obvious muddy quad track. Go downhill at the pheasant pen on or near the quad track. Continue on this track (or on the left when it becomes very muddy) taking a right turn after a short steep climb then follow a wet but mainly firm track downhill to Fairlie Glen.

The Glen downhill is very rough and enjoyable, go left behind the castle down a narrow track (careful of walkers and dogs) then left at the bottom to the railway station leave the car park then first left second right cross the main road onto the Sustrans route going left, south along beside the main road.

The Sustrans track goes through Hunterston estate passing the old Castle on route. 300m past the castle go right, at the next track crossing go straight ahead, climb bending left, ignore the rough track forking left and at the top of the next rise with a line of trees on the left go through a gate off the road onto a grassy track. Climb this obvious steep track to the top of the hill and admire the fabulous view at the trig point. Go through the gate and descend by the rough track from the mast down to Ardneil. Go straight over the road to the beach to return along the beach track or by the B7048.

At the end of the beach track climb away from the beach passing the golf course turn right at the main road and next left. Go to the top of this road to its end go left 20m along a footpath then right over a rough area leading to the Glen path turn left through the Glen back to the start.