C118 (North Ayrshire)
C118 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
The south end of the route, where Routenburn Road meets the A78 Greenock Road | ||||
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From: | Largs (NS199605) | |||
To: | Skelmorlie (NS192655) | |||
Via: | Routenburn | |||
Distance: | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | |||
Meets: | A78, A78 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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For other roads numbered C118, see C118.
The C118 starts towards the northern end of the pleasant Clyde resort of Largs and climbs up from the A78 on Routenburn Road. This passes a few houses, and then cuts through a golf course before continuing across the hillside between fields. The road dips to cross a number of streams as it heads north, and after passing behind Knock Castle, a side road drops down beside one of these to meet the A78. The C118 continues across the hillside, before dropping steeply down to meet the A78 itself just south of Skelmorlie.
Route
The route begins at the former Netherhall Estate gatehouse at the junction of the A78, Greenock Road and Routenburn Road in the north side of Largs. The estate was the home of Sir William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) until his death in 1907.
Climbing fairly steeply, a left bend after around 200m marks the end of the Largs suburbs and the narrowing of the road, which remains narrow for the remainder of its length. The clubhouse of Routenburn Golf Club is then seen on the left side, with green pastures on the right. Around 100m further along the road, the golf course switches to the right and the green pastures to the left.
The route reaches its highest point of 81m just south of Knock Castle, which is mostly concealed by trees on the left side. The former stables of the castle are by the roadside to the right as the road starts to drop down to the 25m mark to cross the Blackhouse Burn at St Fillans (also known as St Phillans).
At this point, an unclassified road leads a short distance west to the A78.
The road climbs again immediately after crossing the Blackhouse Burn and soon enters open pastureland, with several farms dotted along the route. Look out for the 'Secret Nuclear Bunker' on the left side of the road. This cold war nuclear monitoring station is preserved by enthusiasts and is open to the public by arrangement. Superb views of the Firth of Clyde are enjoyed from this point.
Further along on the right can be seen Barrhill Holiday Camp, shortly after which the road drops down the 20% gradient to and through the hamlet of Meigle, immediately after which it terminates when it rejoins the A78 at Meigle Bay.
C118 (North Ayrshire) | ||||
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