Castle Route route

1.Start and finish at the South Castle Gates on the A841. Head northwards along the coast road, past Arran Aromatics, the Arran Brewery and Brodick Castle entrance,look out for seals basking on the rocks along this coast. Continue to the next track on the left, Merkland Wood.

2.Climb this rough forest road, over a bridge, through a forest gate following the main track as it bends left, then right, then sharp left again, continue straight ahead at the next track junction to eventually drop down left onto another track.

3.Continue right, up this track to cross a ford by the footbridge. The track now becomes rougher in dense forest. Continue through another shallow ford to the top of the hill, through a gate and on to a track junction.

4.Turn left down the rough track, descending quite steeply to the next junction.

5.Go right and continue down the track which is rough in places and care should be taken descending through steep bends to meet the Goat Fell path at the next junction. Also be aware of walkers and forestry vehicles.

6.Turn left and descend for a few metres before turning right at a small junction onto a more overgrown, grassy track which bears left and descends to the next junction.

7.Turn right then immediately bear left on a muddy trail contouring around a steep
sided gully, crossing a large wooden bridge over the river, beware of the steep drops to the left hand side, continue to the view point at the top where the track forks.8.Bear right down a rough track into Glen Rosa, extra care should be taken over the loose rocks and logs. This track eventually meets a boundary wall with the forest, do not go through the wall. Take the narrow path down the left of the wall,again taking care of hidden rocks, etc, to meet a wider path at the bottom.

9.Turn left along the trail which is muddy in places, taking care across several rough drainage ditches. This track gradually climbs along the Glen Rosa field boundary to meet a forest road at the top.

10.Turn right and descend the forest road to meet the Tarmaced Castle drive.

11.Turn right down the Castle Drive continuing along this to finish at the A841 road,look out for the standing stones in the fields over the beech hedges.