The B7048 is a short link road heading west from the north Ayrshire town of West Kilbride to the hamlet of Portencross on the Clyde coast. The road was originally unclassified but had gained its number by 1932.
Along the coast towards Arran
The route starts at a roundabout on the B782 to the north of West Kilbride town centre and heads west along the residential Portencross Road, already showing the final destination, although part of the road is know as Crosshill Brae. The houses on the north side are mostly bungalows, which give way to open fields after 300 yards. On the south side of the road is West Kilbride Primary School and a row of detached traditional villas which stretch to the end of town. As the route turns a slight corner, passing the last house on the right, the view ahead opens up, first of rolling fields dropping to the coast, and then the tantalizing view of Arran's hills is briefly glimpsed before the road plunges into the tree lined descent. This steep, winding descent quickly leads to Portencross Crossroads, where the busy A78 is crossed on a slight bend. The B7048 narrows considerably after crossing the junction, losing its centre line and remains narrow for the rest of its journey.
The route continues west across the fields, with double yellow lines on both sides for most of its length, this is an indication of how popular Portencross is in good weather. There are houses and farms dotted along the roadside, and the route also passes through a couple of wooded areas. Apart from these minor obstructions, there are stunning views south out across the Firth of Clyde and over to Arran, latterly across West Kilbride Golf Links which can be seen stretching along the shore. So far this part of the route has been a long, slightly sinuous straight, losing some height at the starte before levelling off. At length, however, it bears left, to curve around Auld Hill, cutting off the corner of Farland Head, and enters the tiny coastal village of Portencross. Traffic is advised to use the village car park, which stretches down to the shore to the left, but the B7048 continues past it into the village. There are little more than a dozen properties here, clustered round the ruinous castle, and all are large and expensive looking.
The road passes the houses to end at a gate leading to the old harbour. The only other access here is a private drive and there is no simple way of turning round. Beyond the gate, the Ayrshire Coast Path follows a farm road north along the coast as far as Northbank Farm, after which a narrow path leads to Hawking Craig and thereby Hunterston for pedestrians and cyclists.
