Ayr Way was opened in 2006 and is now attracting around 100,000 people to walk it each year.  We have a number of events along the River Ayr Way throughout the year but the River Ayr Way Challenge is the most popular and by far the most challenging event.  

Entry for 2010 is now closed

Walkers and ultra runners are invited to walk or run the route. Runners are asked to run the route over one day and walkers cover 22 miles per day, completing the Challenge in 2 days.  

Each year the River Ayr Way Challenge organisers choose a charity and many of the participants choose to take part in the Challenge as a sponsored event.  

In 2008 the River Ayr Way Challenge raised over £4500 for Cancer Research UK  

In 2009 £4200 was raised for the Fairy Box Charity 

This year’s chosen Challenge charity is Scottish Cancer Support who offers support for cancer sufferers and their families  – www.scottishcancersupport.org.uk    Registered charity number: SCO33252

Scottish Cancer Support Sponsor Form 

Information for Walkers

walkers entries for 2010 Challenge

Entry

£15 per person. Teams or individuals are welcome to enter. Get your friends or colleagues  involved, enter a team, raise funds for Scottish Cancer Support and discover some of the most beautiful scenery that Ayrshire has to offer. Walkers are expected to complete the Challenge in 2 days completing 22 miles per day. Cheques should be made payable to East Ayrshire Council. Please return entry forms and fees to: Louise Kyle, The Visitor Centre, Dean Castle Country Park, Dean Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1XB 

Transport   / Logistics

Buses will be provided.  The pick up points will be from Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock and the Citadel in Ayr, stopping off in Cumnock on the way to Glenbuck. Buses will leave Dean Castle Country Park and the Citadel at approx 7.30am to ensure that everyone is at Glenbuck ready to start at 9am. 

On Day 1 walkers are expected to walk from Glenbuck to Catrine House Caravan Park / Ice Cream Parlour. The 2nd day of the Challenge is from the caravan park to the Citadel in Ayr

Transport will  be provided at Catrine to take walkers home at the end of the 1st day.  Please be aware that the finishing times can be quite staggered and faster walkers may have to wait until there are enough people to fill a bus before they can get transport back from Catrine. Anyone wishing to arrange their own transport back from Catrine at the end of day one are welcome to do so.

For anyone who wishes to camp overnigth at Catrine House Caravan Park you can contact the caravan park directly on 01290 551252

Buses will also be available on the Sunday morning to take walkers back to Catrine to carry on with the 2nd day’s walk. These buses will leave Kilmarnock and Ayr at approx 8.30am to get to Catrine for a 9am start.

Please confirm whether seats on the bus are required on the booking form

At the end of the Challenge at the Citadel, most walkers arrange to be collected as the finishing times can be quite staggered. If anyone has any problems arranging transport home from the Citadel after completing the walk on the Sunday please contact louise.kyle@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or on 01563 554751

Checkpoints:

There will be checkpoints approx every 5 miles along the route which will provide water, energy drinks, chocolate and fruit.

RAW Challenge2010 Registration Form

RAW Challenge disclaimer 2010

There will be a River Ayr Way Challenge prize giving / Ayrshire Cancer Support cheque presentation at Dean Castle Country Park on the 30th September at 6pm

 

Information for Runners  

Entry for 2010 is now closed

runners entries for 2010 Challenge

RAW Challenge entry form for runners

Could you please email me at louise.kyle@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or telephone 01563 554751 if you require a seat on the bus to the start of the race.

 Registration

Registration for the race will take place on the bus where you will be issued with your race numbers. For anyone making their own way to Glenbuck there will be a registration point there too. The bus will leave from the Citadel in Ayr at 7.30am. A bus will also leave from Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock at 7.30am

 The race will begin at 9am after a quick photocall at the side of Glenbuck Loch.  Runners are expected to dress according to the prevailing weather conditions. There will be a mobile first aid unit on standby as well as trained first aiders at the checkpoints

 Checkpoints

Start	Glenbuck Dam
Checkpoint 1	Kames Car Park
Checkpoint 2	Limmerhaugh
Checkpoint 3	Sorn at Bridge
Checkpoint 4	Haugh Farm
Checkpoint 5	Failford
Checkpoint 6	Gadgarth Bridge
Checkpoint 7	Tarholm Bridge
Checkpoint 8	Auchincruive
Finish	Citadel Ayr

There will be checkpoints every 5 miles along the route  – these checkpoints will have water, energy drinks, chocolate and fruit meaning that runners do not require support crews or need to carry supplies with them.

 Runners are required to check in at each checkpoint. Please make sure that the marshalls have got a note of your number as you pass. Please do not exit the race without letting someone know. For anyone carrying a mobile phone, the race organisers number will be provided for you. If anyone has to pull out then they can be transported off the route.

 All runners are expected to pass through Auchincruive by 6.00 pm which is approx 9 kms from the end of the race / 57kms from the start

 Bags

If anyone has a bag that they would like dropped at a checkpoint or taken to the end of the race for them please clearly label them with your name and where it has to be dropped off and we will do that on the morning of the race for you.

 The Route

The route will be way marked by Tim Downie, a regular user of the River Ayr Way. He has highlighted some areas that it may be useful to have a look at if you are unfamiliar with the route: http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/raw/

 The River Ayr Way is mostly a whin path – there are some sections which are on grass and some sections which will be on road / pavements the closer you get to the finish.

 Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for fastest M and F overall as well as the fastest in each category. All entrants will get a medal and goody bag.

 Showers

Showers will be available at the end of the race at the Citadel Leisure Centre.

 Running the route as a sponsored run

If anyone wishes to run this as a sponsored event to raise money for Scottish Cancer Support you can download a sponsor form from the Challenge page at www.theriverayrway.org. If you are going to run this as a sponsored event can you please email louise.kyle@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or telephone 01563 554751

 SUMS Ball

Don’t forget that the SUMS ball will be taking place in Ayr Town Hall after the RAW Challenge. Anyone wishing a ticket for the ball should contact Murdo McDonald –  http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/sums/sumsball.htm

I look forward to seeing you all on the 18^th September. If you need any more information please don’t hesitate to contact me on 01563 554751 or by emailing louise.kyle@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Maps  

Much of the Way is pretty self explanatory (just keep walking downstream!) but there are a few points where you need to know where to divert of various paths.  For this reason , Tim Downie, who is a regular user of the River Ayr Way has kindly collated a separate collection of maps to highlight areas he refers to as the tricky bits.  If you don’t know the route and don’t want to carry too many maps printouts, just concentrate on these bits. .  

Tim maintains the unofficial RAW site: http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/raw/where there is a single sheet print off of the sections below  

Tricky Bits     

 

Crossflat – 3.5 miles from start:   Here the path joins the road briefly and you head downhill towards the river followed by a left turn up a track and then a right turn back onto the path.  

 

Martyr’s grave – 6.3 miles from start:  Here the path leaves the railway cutting by a blue arrowed finger post before joining another track.  After about 200 m at the beginning of some woodland on your right, you leave the track to pass the Martyr’s grave (on your right).  

 NS 559 264 (at entrance to village) and NS 547 265 (where path leave road after leaving village).
Sorn – 17 miles from start: You enter the village on the road but ignore the non-RAW finger post indicating a footpath up the hill on your right.  Carry on to the second bridge where you cross and then leave the road to the right about 300m after crossing the bridge.  

 

Catrine – 19.4 miles from start: The way through the village is rather confusing and there are multiple possible ways of getting down onto the B705.  It doesn’t really matter which way you go as long as you get yourself down to Mill Square at NS 528 258 and then to Bridge Street which you follow to the footbridge over the river. 

 Stair – 28.8 miles from start: Not a big problem here, just remember to turn right when the path joins the road and follow the road for about 200m before leaving it to the left.  Prepare for mud between the fields! 

 Annbank – 31.5 miles from start: As you run along the B744 watch out for Mill Road starting at NS 403 226 which leads you down to the mill.  After about 250 m it joins another track and you must turn RIGHT to carry on down to the river.  If you find yourself back up on the road you’ve gone wrong. Don’t go though the mill house grounds though, there’s a small path leaving from a small car park just before the house 

 Holmston – 38.3 miles from start: Whilst there may be stepping stone across the river here, don’t try and use them.  The path leading to them is long overgrown and the stones are unsafe.  Follow the road on to the A77, keeping to the east side and you find some steps and an underpass underneath the A77 so no need to dice with death! 

 Craigie – 39.5 miles from start: Nearly finished!  The path runs alongside the river and then you have to divert down some shallow steps that lead down beyond the foot bridge.  Double back & cross the bridge. 

 Citadel – 41 miles from start: Cross the old stone bridge and join Ayr High Street.  Dodge the shoppers, cross the Sandgate dodging the buses & taxis and then go down Boat Vennal past Loudon Hall to bring you back to the river side.  When you reach Miller’s Folly, turn left and there’s the finish! 

If you’re looking for any general advice about the course or regarding training etc., please contact Tim Downie, through the unofficial site, who knows the course well  and will be happy to help if he can

In registering, you are accepting the River Ayr Way Challenge terms and conditions. You are declaring that you are medically fit, will abide by the rules and regulations of the event and understand that you are entering entirely at your own risk to yourself and your belongings. 

There will be a River Ayr Way Challenge prize giving / Ayrshire Cancer Support cheque presentation at Dean Castle Country Park on the 30th September at 6pm