B781

The B781 is a short B-road in north Ayrshire.

The route starts at a signalised crossroads on the A78 to the west of West Kilbride town centre, within sight of the sea. It heads east up the steep, narrow and residential Yerton Brae, which winds up between old stone walls draped with bushes from the gardens behind. As the road levels out it widens but soon reaches the narrow streets of the town centre. A new / extended one way system was implemented in 2017, so now the route becomes one-way westbound as it forks right onto Ritchie Street. Eastbound traffic must use Well Street and Corse Street to reach the B7048 which terminates at a small roundabout on the B782 a short distance to the north-east. St Bride's Road then allows traffic to rejoin the B781 on Gateside Street. Ritchie Street passes some fine old stone houses and a substantial church, before entering the town centre and becoming Main Street. There is an eclectic mix of shops here, with some interesting architecture rising above. Most of the side streets are also one way, including Hunterston Street, the B782, which is one-way northbound.

Main Street dips a little in the middle, before climbing again past another pair of substantial churches, and then comes to a fork. It becomes two-way at the car park entrance just before, but is immediately into another one-way system. Eastbound traffic curves left onto Gateside Street, which becomes one-way at the next junction (St Brides Road) with opposite traffic having to use Cubrieshaw Street, which is partially one-way and then TOTSOing right onto Main Street at a junction with the B7047. It is probably easier to navigate than describe. The B781 finally becomes fully two-way and continues north along Gateside Street to reach the edge of town. Before long, it sweeps round to the right onto Dalry Road and crosses over the Ayrshire Coast railway line and then, after passing a row of houses, heads out across the fields.

Towards Munnoch

The route continues east and winds into a shallow valley as it climbs up into the hills. A steeper climb lifts it up past a couple of farms and on to the summit at around 130m. The gentle, undulating descent is considerably straighter, but still has some sinuous bends. There are a few isolated buildings on this stretch. Eventually a steeper drop dips the road down to end at a TOTSO on the B780 near Munnoch Reservoir, which has been visible ahead for some distance.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: West Kilbride - Junction with A780 near Munnock