📌 Ochiltree, East Ayrshire
★★★
There are several Wallace’s Cave around the Scottish Lowlands – all said to have been used as a refuge by Scottish knight William Wallace. Of these, surely the one with the most dramatic setting is that perched high above the Lugar Water gorge near Ochiltree. The old path to the cave is rather sketchy and runs unnervingly close to the cliff edge at times, so extra care should be taken and grippy footwear is required; this part of the route is not recommended if the ground is at all wet, and can be omitted entirely (see map below). Entering the cave involves a short scramble and use of a rope, though there is a good view from before this last obstacle. The rest of this circuit is mostly a low-key amble through woodland and grassland, but with three successive incarnations of the Auchinleck estate house to view: an 18th century mansion, a ruined 17th century house, and fragments of a 13th century castle atop an unlikely sandstone bluff. The Lugar Water is also accessible from near the latter, with impressive cliffs of its own. Back at the car park, the former coach house has a café serving excellent cakes – a well-deserved treat after your adventure!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Auchinleck House 
Bridge over the burn east of the house 
Braid Wood 
Path towards Wallace’s Cave 
Lugar Water gorge rim path – care required 
Wallace’s Cave 
Entering the cave (optional – great care needed) 
Inside the cave 
Crossing the burn in Braid Wood 
Path towards Auchinleck Old House 
Cliffs above the Lugar Water 
Auchinleck Old House 
Auchinleck Castle 
Lugar Water south of the castle 
Return to the car park
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Boswell’s Estate hub, off the B7036 1 mi north of Ochiltree
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 506229
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.476963,-4.365035
❌ No public transport within 1 mi – nearest bus stop is in Ochiltree (1.5 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 90 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr
Features: 🏰 Auchinleck House; 🌊 Lugar Water gorge; 🕸 Wallace’s Cave; 🏰 Auchinleck Old House; 🏰 Auchinleck Castle
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | ⚠️ Approach to cave is on a rough, narrow path with unprotected drops – great care needed. Entering the cave (optional) requires a short scramble up a narrow ledge with a rope to help. The rest of the route is on more straightforward paths / tracks.
Download file for GPS➡️ Irregular walk shape: start – Auckinleck House – track on north side of burn through Braid Wood – Wallace’s Cave – retrace steps & cross bridge at 🧭 NS 504233 – Auchinleck Old House – Auchinleck Castle & Lugar Water – return to Old House – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Highland cows & pigs by the car park. A buzzard, grey squirrels, lots of tits & other woodland birds.
Weather: 16°C, sunny intervals.
August 2023
