The Walk…Woodland Trails at Locherwood and Ladymuir
by Rona Simpson
Begin: Car park on B789 between Kilmacolm and Lochwinnoch: Locherwood Car Park
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Mostly flat but can get very boggy in some seasons
Distance: 7 / 7.5km
Nature Spot: Possibility spotting birds of prey like Hen Harriers, Buzzards and Kestrels. In summer months you might see Green hairstreak, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Orange Tip butterflies
Begin along the track from the carpark, following it as it curves through the trees. Turn right at a green marker onto a grassy path passing a picnic table. Continue through mixed native tress to an old stone bridge over a burn. Care needed. Follow with trail (they both meet soon) and then cross another small bridge. Keep left then cross a boardwalk before ascending to meet another grassy track. Turn right with a drystone dyke on your left.
Keep right at another junction where there is a blue marker. Cross a small burn. A dense plantation (Ladymuir) is ahead to the left. The path carries on to a stile over a wall and past some thick bushes. Keep going until you reach a t-junction. Ladymuir Reservoir is just ahead. Follow the forestry track for several kms.
Keep following the track as it follows the base of Thornlybank Hill. Keep ahead as track goes left. Eventually you will reach a junction. A right here takes you towards Clyde Muirsheil Visitor Centre via Windy Hill, but to continue this route continue ahead. Blue markers show where to fork left off the track and meet a grassy path. It could be boggy here.
The path then descends by some rocks and reaches a junction. Keep following the blue markers. The path runs beside a drystone dyke and crosses a footbridge. Follow a right fork in the path uphill – continue to follow blue markers to pass an open area and then back into the trees. Continue straight until you get to the house at Ward. Turn right along a track here. Take a left on a path that leads to a junction where you turn right and head back to the car park.
