Our route description below details the old road from Ballantrae to Stranraer, but also gives two possible alternative routes leading to New Luce:

Leave the A77 road 1km south of Ballantrae at a Stinchar Valley Trails signpost and go E along a minor road towards Auchairne for 1km. Then go SE uphill past Kilwhannel across the north-east shoulder of Smyrton Hill and over Beneraird at a height of 424m. Continue past Lagafater Lodge and down the Main Water of Luce to map ref 141 742. Take the right fork to go by Barnvannoch and High Mark to a road junction (just N of the filter station) at map ref 134 696. From there a choice is possible:
(a) To reach Stranraer, take the road on the right going east of Penwhirn Reservoir and continue SW over Braid Fell to reach
Innermessan, 4km by the A77 road from Stranraer.
(b) To reach New Luce, take the road on the left still following the Main Water of Luce SE by a quiet road to New Luce.
An alternative from map ref 141 742 is to take the track SE and over the Cross Water of Luce by a bridge some 700 metres south of Glenwhilly, thence by minor road 7km to New Luce.

OS Landranger 76 & 82