News on Ardrossan Connections

Through a collaborative design process, the Ardrossan Connections project aims to enhance the National Cycle Network routes that run through Ardrossan , for walking, wheeling and cycling.

From the Commonplace Survey , the project team found that one-third of respondents had either not heard of the National Cycle Network before the survey, or had heard of it but were not aware of any routes. Almost three-quarters of respondents have used the routes within Ardrossan for walking, wheeling or cycling, within the last 12 months.

One of the project’s objectives is to raise awareness of the National Cycle Network ; please read on to find out more about the Network as a whole, and be inspired to use the routes connected to Ardrossan .

The National Cycle Network is a UK wide network of signed paths and routes for walking, cycling, wheeling and exploring outdoors. The National Cycle Network plays a vital role in connecting communities, and allows people across the country to make healthier choices for more of their journeys.

There is currently over 1,600 miles of the Network in Scotland.

Using automatic counters and surveys across the whole of the Network, it was estimated in 2017 that there were:

• 4.4 million users over the UK

• 786 million journeys taken on the National Cycle Network

• 77,400 walking trips per traffic free mile of the Network

National Route 73

National Cycle Network Route 73 is broken into two distinct sections- north and south. The northern section connects Ardrossan with the busy town of Kilmarnock via a mixture of traffic-free railway paths and quiet road sections. The distance of this is 18 miles and the route can be seen below:

From Ardrossan, you can catch the ferry to continue along the route on the beautiful Isle of Arran. Here, you can catch another ferry to Claonaig and link with The Caledonia Way . The full length of this route is 234 miles and runs from Campbeltown all the way to Inverness, but a small part of it could be taken in as a day or a weekend trip from Ardrossan.

The southern part of National Cycle Network Route 73 connects Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway with Wigtown, Glenluce and the coastal town of Stranraer at the base of Loch Ryan. National Cycle Network Route 7 can be used to connect the northern and southern sections of the route, as it passes through Newton Stewart. Picking up Route 7 in Kilwinning, connects Ardrossan with Irvine (10 miles from Ardrossan); Troon (approx. 17 miles); Prestwick (approx. 20 miles) and Ayr (approx. 23 miles). Please note: there is a short gap in National Cycle Network Route 73 at Glen of Luce.

National Route 753 (South)

National Cycle Network Route 753 leaves Route 73 at Harbour Street and continues through Ardrossan, linking Seamill and Ardrossan . This section of the route is just under 4 miles long and so can be cycled in less than half an hour, or walked in a little over an hour.

For further information, including finding your perfect route and an interactive map of the whole of the National Cycle Network, please visit: www.sustrans.org.uk/national-cycle-network

For further information on the National Cycle Network Routes within North Ayrshire, please have a look at the routes on the North Ayrshire Council’s website.

Ardrossan Connections

This project aims to improve the experience for everyone using National Cycle Routes going through Ardrossan that run along - Princes Street, Montgomerie Street, North Crescent Road and a section on Harbour Street whether they choose to walk, cycle or wheel, and spending time in the centre of Ardrossan.

Options to improve the National Cycle Network through the centre of Ardrossan will be considered, in order to create a more accessible route and encourage use.

We have extended the closing date for feedback, so you can still take part in our virtual walking audit and have your say on improvements to street environment, accessibility and safety around Ardrossan.

Please watch the video below and provide your comments and feedback for as many of the six locations as you would like to.

Your comments can be written into an email and sent to cat.wright@sustrans.org.uk . Or, you can download our walking audit sheet to fill in here and email it back. Alternatively, you can record a voice message and send it over Whats App, to Cat on 07870361359.

Please send your feedback by Sunday 28th February.

We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for your interest in Ardrossan Connections.