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Home> Walks> Scotland> South Lanarkshire> The King’s Cave

The King’s Cave

Recommended by
Our view
"Discover strange geological formations and the cave where Robert the Bruce might have watched that spider"
Walk directions

From the car park cross a bridge and follow the road round to where it bends right and take the left turn signposted to Shiskine Golf Club. Go past the club house onto a hard surfaced road running parallel to the beach.

Follow this to reach gateposts at the drive to Drumadoon Farm and turn left. Continue to a sign pointing right to King’s Cave. Follow this path uphill to a gate and continue on the path across the fields, behind Doon Fort.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Forest paths, muddy tracks and beach path
  Landscape  - Shore and forest, mountain views
  Dog friendliness  - Generally dog friendly but must be on a lead near livestock
  Parking  - Blackwaterfoot car park
  Toilets en route  - Blackwaterfoot car park
Walks in South Lanarkshire Dog-friendly walks in South Lanarkshire Family friendly walks in South Lanarkshire
About the walk
The caves here have been carved out of the sandstone by the action of the tides over millennia. King’s Cave gets its name from Robert the Bruce, who allegedly hid here for a time during the Scottish Wars of Independence. It is said that while hiding in a cave, Robert the Bruce watched a spider...
Read more
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About the area
South Lanarkshire offers some of Scotland’s best days out, with country parks, museums, activity centres, historic sites and walking trails to choose from. Many of the area’s museums are a window into the county’s industrial heritage, the biggest claim to fame being New Lanark.
Explore South Lanarkshire
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Glamping
Runach Arainn Glamping
★★★★★
awardaward
"Creature comforts abound in these stylish yurts lost in rural Arran...."
  • Launderette
  • BBQ
  • Picnic Area
  • Wifi available
Caravan & Camping
Carradale Bay Caravan Park
★★★
award
"Winning combination of beach location and views of Arran...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop onsite
Guest Accommodation
Dunvegan House
★★★★
award
"Expect a warm welcome at this large house, a stone’s throw from the sea...."
  • Rooms 9
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Runach Arainn Glamping
Runach Arainn, Gaelic for ‘Secret Arran’, lives up to its name – hidden away in a quiet and beautiful part of the Isle of Arran, just a 15-minute walk from a lovely beach. It offers sup...
★★★★★    Rating
Carradale Bay Caravan Park
A beautiful, natural site on the sea's edge with superb views over Kilbrannan Sound to the Isle of Arran. Pitches are landscaped into small bays broken up by shrubs and bushes, and back...
★★★    Rating
Dunvegan House
Dunvegan House is situated close to the shore and enjoying spectacular views of the bay, this establishment is a popular choice for visitors to the island. The property benefits from ha...
★★★★    Rating
Seal Shore Camping and Touring Site
On the south coast of Arran and only 12 miles from the ferry at Brodick, Seal Shore Camping and Touring Site is a peaceful, family-run site with direct access to a sandy beach. There ar...
★★★★    Rating
Trump Turnberry
Trump Turnberry enjoys an elevated location looking down over the championship golf courses and out to sea. This is a grand dame hotel which continues to showcase quality and luxury in ...
★★★★★    Rating
Marine Troon
The Marine Troon was built in 1894 and has been welcoming guests ever since. The hotel enjoys an enviable location overlooking Royal Troon golf course, out to sea and across to Arran. T...
Quality Assessed
Piersland House
Piersland House is a delightful, historic hotel enjoys a prime location in its own grounds in the heart of the golfing centre that is Troon. Extensive public areas include conference an...
★★★★    Rating
The Riverside Lodge Hotel
The Riverside Lodge Hotel is usefully located just eight miles from Glasgow Prestwick Airport and 40 minutes from Glasgow itself, and handy for Royal Troon, Turnberry and Old Prestwick ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
1906
   AA Rosette Award
The Rabbit
   AA Rosette Award
Walkers Lounge
   AA Rosette Award
The Colintraive
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
1906
   AA Rosette Award
The Rabbit
   AA Rosette Award
Walkers Lounge
   AA Rosette Award
The Colintraive
   AA Rosette Award
Glenapp Castle Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
The Kirkmichael Arms
Awaiting inspection
View all
Route details
3hrs 30min
Dog-friendly Family-friendly
Difficulty:
Medium

Gradient:
Moderate


Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)

Ascent:
114ft (35m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
Discover more walks in South Lanarkshire
If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.
Find more walks in South Lanarkshire

The King’s Cave

Recommended by
Our view
"Discover strange geological formations and the cave where Robert the Bruce might have watched that spider"
Walk details
3hrs 30min
Dog friendly Family friendly
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Moderate
Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)
Ascent:
114ft (35m)
Walk directions

From the car park cross a bridge and follow the road round to where it bends right and take the left turn signposted to Shiskine Golf Club. Go past the club house onto a hard surfaced road running parallel to the beach.
1 of 6

Follow this to reach gateposts at the drive to Drumadoon Farm and turn left. Continue to a sign pointing right to King’s Cave. Follow this path uphill to a gate and continue on the path across the fields, behind Doon Fort.
2 of 6

Continue on the track through several fields, eventually reaching a gate to a narrow downhill twisting path. At a bend in the downhill path, take the tiny narrow path to the left to get a close-up view of the columns of the fort. Return to the track and follow it downhill and parallel to the beach.
3 of 6

Follow this well-trodden path until, eventually, just beyond a signpost to Machrie car park, it comes to the King’s Cave. Spend some time exploring the caves and then continue on the path beyond them along the beach until the path heads up a steep eroded path to a gate and on up to a path.
4 of 6

Turn left along this path and follow it all the way to a car park, initially with the beach on one side and the forest on the other and then turning away from the sea. Just before the King’s Cave car park, look out on the left for the hut circle and the information board.
5 of 6

Cross the car park and continue on a forest path. Follow the clear winding path through the forest, then through a gate and downhill to join the coastal path at the signpost you passed on the way to the caves. Turn left and retrace your path to Blackwaterfoot.
6 of 6
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Forest paths, muddy tracks and beach path
  Landscape - Shore and forest, mountain views
  Dog friendliness - Generally dog friendly but must be on a lead near livestock
  Parking - Blackwaterfoot car park
  Toilets en route - Blackwaterfoot car park
Walks in South Lanarkshire Dog-friendly walks in South Lanarkshire Family friendly walks in South Lanarkshire
About the walk
The caves here have been carved out of the sandstone by the action of the tides over millennia. King’s Cave gets its name from Robert the Bruce, who allegedly hid here for a time during the Scottish Wars of Independence. It is said that while hiding in a cave, Robert the Bruce watched a spider...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire offers some of Scotland’s best days out, with country parks, museums, activity centres, historic sites and walking trails to choose from. Many of the area’s museums are a window into the county’s industrial heritage, the biggest claim to fame being New Lanark.
Explore South Lanarkshire

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Glamping
Runach Arainn Glamping
★★★★★
awardaward
"Creature comforts abound in these stylish yurts lost in rural Arran...."
  • Launderette
  • BBQ
  • Picnic Area
  • Wifi available
Caravan & Camping
Carradale Bay Caravan Park
★★★
award
"Winning combination of beach location and views of Arran...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Picnic Area
  • Shop onsite
Guest Accommodation
Dunvegan House
★★★★
award
"Expect a warm welcome at this large house, a stone’s throw from the sea...."
  • Rooms 9
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Runach Arainn Glamping
Runach Arainn, Gaelic for ‘Secret Arran’, lives up to its name – hidden away in a quiet and beautiful part of the Isle of Arran, just a 15-minute walk from a lovely beach. It offers sup...
★★★★★    Rating
Carradale Bay Caravan Park
A beautiful, natural site on the sea's edge with superb views over Kilbrannan Sound to the Isle of Arran. Pitches are landscaped into small bays broken up by shrubs and bushes, and back...
★★★    Rating
Dunvegan House
Dunvegan House is situated close to the shore and enjoying spectacular views of the bay, this establishment is a popular choice for visitors to the island. The property benefits from ha...
★★★★    Rating
Seal Shore Camping and Touring Site
On the south coast of Arran and only 12 miles from the ferry at Brodick, Seal Shore Camping and Touring Site is a peaceful, family-run site with direct access to a sandy beach. There ar...
★★★★    Rating
Trump Turnberry
Trump Turnberry enjoys an elevated location looking down over the championship golf courses and out to sea. This is a grand dame hotel which continues to showcase quality and luxury in ...
★★★★★    Rating
Marine Troon
The Marine Troon was built in 1894 and has been welcoming guests ever since. The hotel enjoys an enviable location overlooking Royal Troon golf course, out to sea and across to Arran. T...
Quality Assessed
Piersland House
Piersland House is a delightful, historic hotel enjoys a prime location in its own grounds in the heart of the golfing centre that is Troon. Extensive public areas include conference an...
★★★★    Rating
The Riverside Lodge Hotel
The Riverside Lodge Hotel is usefully located just eight miles from Glasgow Prestwick Airport and 40 minutes from Glasgow itself, and handy for Royal Troon, Turnberry and Old Prestwick ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
1906
   AA Rosette Award
The Rabbit
   AA Rosette Award
Walkers Lounge
   AA Rosette Award
The Colintraive
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
1906
   AA Rosette Award
The Rabbit
   AA Rosette Award
Walkers Lounge
   AA Rosette Award
The Colintraive
   AA Rosette Award
Glenapp Castle Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
The Kirkmichael Arms
Awaiting inspection
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby