Bankglen lies in a landscape shaped by former mining villages. The village’s history spans the founding of a coal company, a school, a church and an inn; the New Cumnock Circular also passes through parts of the former mining area. This means you can plan a stay around two specific interests: paths through the area and the history of the small community.

Paths and getting there

The New Cumnock Circular, included in East Ayrshire Council’s 2020 leisure plan, runs from Bankglen via Burnfoot Road. A description from June 2025 takes the route along the B741 towards Bank Glen; it then turns onto Boig Road towards Cumnock. Another section follows a path through woodland and returns via the old Furnace Road to the B741 towards New Cumnock. The described route also includes a stretch via Fordemouth Junction and a farm track to an old brickworks.

Bank Glen is connected to core paths and lies on the New Cumnock Circular; the core paths provide access on foot. Routes and path conditions can change, so check the route you intend to take before setting out. A bus service connects Bank Glen with New Cumnock and Dalmellington. Bus services and frequencies can also change; check before travelling which connection suits your plans.

Mining history and village development

Nearby is Lanemark Row, also known locally as Knowe Tap. The route through the former mining area passes its remains. The Circular therefore brings together a specific site from mining history and a range of landscape sections. Bankglen itself is part of an area whose development was shaped by former mining villages.

John Hyslop founded the Bank Coal Company in 1860. The small community of Bank Glen grew, and more houses were added along the road. A public school was built in Bank in 1874. A year later, the Bank Free Church was established beside the school to serve the coal-mining communities of Connel Park, Craigbank and Burnfoot.

The Bank Free Church was built of corrugated iron and was known locally as the “Iron Church.” It was later replaced by a new stone church; the foundation stone for the new building was laid on 22 April 1899. The sequence of the coal company, school and church illustrates different aspects of the mining area’s development: economic activity as well as facilities for the community.

The Bank Glen Inn is also part of the village’s history, though it served a different purpose. It was an inn while the ironworks were operating; later, it was used as a private residence. Together with the information about the school and church, this gives a picture of changes that were not limited to the mining companies. Anyone interested in the area’s history can connect this local development with the traces of the former mining area that the circular route follows along the way.

Discover more destinations: Ayr, Skelmorlie, Isle of Arran, Kilbirnie, Hurlford, Symington, Kildonan, Lagg.

For the wider travel overview: Ayrshire.