St. Connel's, Kirkconnel and Kirkland Hill
Difficulty level B; distance 8.2 miles: total ascent 1738ft. Parking - in the area leading to the railway station in Kirkconnel.
Go along the main street to the NW and take the second underpass under the railway line.Turn left on the far side of the underpass going through a kissing gate and the start of a waymarked walk along the Polblower Burn (locally known as the Baker's Burn), Follow the walk over several bridges until you come to a minor road at Old Kirkland where you turn right and follow the road (which shortly ceases to be tarmacadamed) through Kirkland Farm and on to the remains of St. Connel's Church and graveyard. This is worth a stop to look at the various interpretation boards before returning a short distance and over a stile. Climb up the hill past a board interpreting the geology of the area. Continue upwards passing a waterfall to reach Glenaylmer Craig on Little Kirkland Hill (the Churn Burn should be on your left). At the top of the track turn left to go to the trigpoint on Kirkland Hill. A few steps south of this and you should be able to pick up quadbike tracks going to the west. Follow thi first to the west and then south, ultimately reaching a gate in a field wall. Go through this and continue to the far corner of the field where there is a fence and ladder stile and then on to a track leading to Glenwharrie Farm. Go left and follow the track back to Kirkland Farm. You can return to Kirkconnel either by the Baker's Burn trail or by the minor road.
This is a beautiful place for walking,im going for a 3rd time in may as my father lives in the cottage across from the old church ruines!.The place never ceases to amaze me as every time you go,you see it in a totaly different way.Id recommend going walking here to anyone as there are walks long and short to suit all ages.Other walks in kirkconnel are also worth a look.Enjoy!!
I am indebted to Ben McFetridge, leader of the OIR (Ayr) Lower Hillwalking Group for providing the information about this walk. I did this walk on a cold but sunny winter's day and enjoyed tremendously the varied nature of the walk, initially along a burn in a picturesque glen, then after visiting the remains of the church and graveyard (well documented with signboards) up the hill with good views all around of the surrounding countryside. One or two of the fields were a bit messy to walk through, but otherwise underfoot conditions were quite reasonable