📌 Darvel, East Ayrshire
★★★★
Loudoun Hill sticks out prominently on Ordnance Survey maps as a concentrated blotch of russet contour lines amongst gentler Ayrshire farmland close to Darvel. Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory over the English here in 1307, with an additional battle a decade earlier featuring Sir William Wallace, documented in poetry and in the striking Spirit of Scotland monument. Nowadays this craggy volcanic plug features several rock climbing routes – a rarity for this part of Scotland – and the rough trods accessing these also help walkers reach the summit by slightly more roundabout routes. Recent path improvements have made the approach to the base of the hill much easier, though the ascent and descent are as steep as ever – a real battle!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Spirit of Scotland monument & Loudoun Hill 
River Irvine 
Crossing the River Irvine 
Path up the southwest side of the hill 
View back from the ascent 
Rocky upper slopes 
View west down the River Irvine from near the top 
Loudoun Hill summit 
Looking south 
Looking northwest 
Descent path 
Rounding the east side of the hill 
View back up the descent route
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Spirit of Scotland car park, minor road 3 mi east of Darvel
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 613378
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.614180,-4.203805
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 2 km / 1 mi | ▲ 170 m | ⌛ 1 hr
Features: ✞ Spirit of Scotland monument; △ Loudoun Hill (316 m)
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Excellent path to foot of hill, then rough paths thereafter. Ascent is rocky with unprotected drops & a couple of spots possibly requiring hands depending on exact route taken (there is an easier alternative starting from the foot of the hill on the west side). Some boggy / muddy patches on descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise lollipop circuit: start – Spirit of Scotland monument – footbridge over River Irvine – Loudoun Hill by southwest face – River Irvine by northeast face – return by outward route or similar
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Highland cows in a nearby field. Lots of crows, many slugs enjoying the wet grass after overnight rain.
Weather: Morning sunshine, temperature in mid teens with a light breeze.
August 2023
