SOUTH Carrick's 'Ayrshire Alps' boasts the UK'S only 'road cycling park' featuring a 15-square mile network of rarely used roads criss-crossing a series of hills.

Since the end of the David Bell memorial race, in 2015, a National ‘A’ event which had been running since 1966, South Ayrshire Council were prompted to look for other ways to promote cycling.

The hill roads of South Carrick make up the ultimate road cyclist’s playground. Popularly referred to as ‘The Ayrshire Alps’, the terrain offers fantastic scenery, cycle friendly roads, and a tough cycling challenge.

A grading system has been applied to the climbs similar to that used to grade ski resorts and mountain bike trail centres. This system is based on robust scientific testing: how the rider’s legs feel after each ascent.

No climb is easy, but their green climbs provide a gentle introduction to the park with easier gradients at The Assell Valley.

All climbs are equal, but some climbs are more equal than others. Blackie’s Brae, the blue route, is named after after a local cycling club member who came to mischief at the base of this climb. Blackies Brae is itself a mischievous climb.

With crisp conditions cyclists will sail to the summit. With an unfavourable wind they will wince through each metre of ascent.

Whatever the weather though, it will be worth it. From the summit you participants to enjoy the sheer exhilaration of descending the Screws.

The red route has been deemed a 'tricky beast' as the gradient of Hadyard is constantly changing. A gentle stretches lull riders into a false sense of security before the road pitches up again. 

It’s a beautiful climb, rising up out the pastoral farm land and onto open moor, listening to the grand swish of mighty wind turbines.

The climb of Glenalla from North Balloch, forms the black route and gets off to a false start. Cyclists rise out the valley, only to have to drop down to a bridge over a burn, hit a cattle grid, and start all over.

 A tough gradient awaits, but they should have the assistance of a favourable wind. The road snakes enough not to taunt them with the sight of ever riser tarmacadam.

But beware of cattle grazing here in summer months – it is open hillside and they are quite oblivious when they wander onto the path of oncoming cyclists.

The Ayrshire Alps is a concept with the aim of enriching the cycling experience in the South Carrick area through partnership working with community, tourism, local authority and enterprise.

The main aim is to create Scotland’s first road cycling park, similar in ambition to the off-road trail centres found across Southern Scotland.

A network of signed hill climbs, stylishly mapped and promoted form the basis of the park. This is supported by local community and business, providing all the appropriate resources and hospitality to welcome visitors.