East Ayrshire region houses 34 villages with Kilmarnock being the largest. Most villages are former coal mining villages. Highlights in the area are Loch Doon that is now dammed for the Galloway Hydro-Electric power station. There is a heritage museum on the railways, a historic house called Stair House, Sorn Castle and Dean Castle.
Route Description
Leave Catrine and follow the A76 to Mauchline, then take the Ayr turn at the lights. Follow the B743 until you reach the crossroads for Tarbolton and Stair. Then turn left for Stair and stay on that road until you reach Stair pub. Then take the right hand fork to Drongan and follow this road until you see a sign for Barskimming Mauchline. Turn left and stay on that road until you come to the T junction, then turn left and at the next juction take a right for Ochiltree.
You need to turn left and left again in Ochiltree, follow this until the crossroads at the hill and go straight on. About 2 miles along the road just after a right hand corner, take a left down a single track road and stay on this until you get to a T junction, then take a right at the end of this road. Take a right again until you get to the main junction that takes you back into Catrine.
Landmarks include the Bachelors' Club, Tarbolton - a debating club founded on 11th November 1780, by Burns. The Stair Manuscript, a collection of 8 early poems and songs by Robert Burns.
Distance 22.84 miles (36.76km), duration approx 2 hours. Start Location Sloan Street End Location Sloan Street.
For more information please visit http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Catrine_Stair_Loop-Cycle-Route-5957.html
