IT HAS been closed since the 16th-century when pilgrimages were banned as part of the Protestant Reformation.
But plans are now being developed to reopen the ancient pilgrim's way which once stretched down the Ayrshire coast to Whithorn, Scotland's "cradle of Christianity."

European funding is being sought to revive at least 75 miles of the ancient pathway along which kings, queens and commoners in their thousands once travelled to pay homage to St Ninian, who founded a place of worship in Whithorn in 397. Mapping work is ongoing to establish an exact route as close to the original as possible but the new trail - to be called St Ninian's Way - may have twin starting points in Largs and Lochwinnoch to the east. It will then progress south through Beith, Dalry, Dundonald, Troon, Alloway, Crossraguel, Girvan, Barrhill, and Ballantrae and on to Galloway via Glen App.