The King's Cave – Through the Forest to Arran's Sea Caves
About 2.9 miles on foot.
The King's Cave is the best known of a row of caves in a sandstone cliff on Arran's west coast, north of Blackwaterfoot, and the story is that Robert the Bruce sheltered here and watched his spider.
A waymarked trail of 4.7 km runs to it through the forest and back along a wild shore, with Kintyre across the water. It has some long steep slopes, so give it two hours, and have lunch at Café Thyme afterwards.
- Time
- About two hours: a waymarked circuit of 4.7 km (3 miles), graded strenuous.
- The path
- Firm but uneven gravel and earth, a rough rocky stretch along the shore, several long steep slopes and two gates. Not for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- Where to start
- Forestry and Land Scotland's King's Cave car park, on the A841 just under three miles north of Blackwaterfoot. Free. KA27 8DX is the nearest postcode.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 12.30pm. Forestry work is under way in the forest: follow the signs. No ferry to Arran on 25 December or 1 January. Wind can stop the boat: look at CalMac's service status page on the morning you travel.
- Dogs
- Under close control near sheep.
- Children
- Steep slopes and a rocky shore; bring a torch for the cave.
- Toilets
- None at the car park; the nearest are in Blackwaterfoot.
- Before you set out
- Forestry work is under way in this forest: follow the signs on site and read the alerts on Forestry and Land Scotland's King's Cave page. No ferry to Arran on 25 December or 1 January. Wind can stop the boat: look at CalMac's service status page on the morning you travel.
The walk
The walk starts at Forestry and Land Scotland's King's Cave car park, on the A841 just under three miles north of Blackwaterfoot. It's free, and KA27 8DX is the nearest postcode. The King's Cave Trail is a waymarked circuit of 4.7 km, or three miles, and the forestry service allows two hours and grades it strenuous. It begins in mixed forest, with views inland over Machrie Moor and south to the cliffs of Drumadoon. The sea once stood about ten metres higher here, so the path has a steep drop to reach the beach. The caves are in a low cliff of soft sandstone above the shingle, with the Kilbrannan Sound and Kintyre in front.
The King's Cave has old carvings on its walls, so bring a torch to see them. The forestry service thinks it unlikely that Bruce ever sheltered here, but says the cave is well worth the visit all the same. Underfoot it's firm but uneven gravel and earth, with a rough, rocky stretch along the shore, some narrow bits, several long steep slopes and two gates. Keep dogs under close control near sheep. Forestry work is under way in this forest, so follow the signs on site, and read the alerts on the forestry service's King's Cave page before you set out. There are no toilets here: the nearest are in Blackwaterfoot.
From November to January, set off by 12.30pm. Arran is reached on CalMac's car ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, a crossing of 55 minutes. Book the car on before you travel, and be at the pier 30 minutes before the boat sails. On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 6 March 2027, a boat leaves Ardrossan at 9.45am every day, and the last one back leaves Brodick at 7.20pm, or at 4.40pm on a Saturday. Until 18 October the summer timetable applies, so read the times on CalMac's Ardrossan to Brodick page. Wind can stop the boat: look at CalMac's service status page on the morning you travel.
If it rains
The forest gives some shelter, but the shore is open to the west and the steep path down to it is slippery when wet. In heavy rain or a gale, leave it for a better day and go straight to Café Thyme.
Afterwards
10 min by car
Cafe Thyme, Machrie
Lunch
Café Thyme is 10 minutes' drive north up the coast road, at the Old Byre at Machrie, with free parking outside. It's open every day from 10am to 5pm, and lunch is served from noon to 3pm. The thing to have is a pide or a flatbread from the wood-fired oven the chef built himself, and there's soup and home baking too. Dogs are welcome at the outside tables. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going on 01770 840227.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Hollies, 23 miles away. Sleeps 18.
Then Glenstriven House, 28 miles away. next free Sun 25 Oct to Tue 27 Oct.
Book the car onto CalMac's Ardrossan to Brodick ferry before you travel, out and back, and be at the pier 30 minutes before the boat.
Where to eat
Cafe Thyme, Machrie, a café.
For further reading, before you go.