Industrial life of a past era brings nostalgic memories on the walk which follows close to the routes of the old railways lines and the canal. Part of the walk is made on the ground of the canal bank and along the hard standing of the former pug and main railway lines.

The railway came to Muirkirk in 1848 with the opening of the Auchinleck to Muirkirk branch line and the arrival of Engine No 31 - The Orion. From then minerals were more easily transported from the pits to the iron work furnaces with spur lines into the production area.

The canal was dug much earlier, in 1790, to facilitate the transport of cheap coal by raft type barges from Lightshaw, Auldhouseburn and Crossflat pits and a newly discovered bed of limestone at Ashieburn which became known as Newhouse quarry. "Bogie" roads led from all of these places to the waterway and are easily followed today on the walk.

The route passes Auldhouseburn House, built in 1610 and rebuilt and extended in 1884. An escape tunnel from the old house to a nearby burn was said to be retained to preserve the house's historic link with the Covenanters - the local division's flag being kept there.

There is a panoramic view of the village from many places on this walk and on the inward journey, the clock tower of Kames Institute, once a recreation centre for the village, latterly an Outdoor Pursuit Centre, commands the skyline.