STIRLING AND EASTWARDS

 This is a drive which will take you eastwards along the foot of the Ochils and along part of the Mill Trail.  It offers plenty of opportunities for taking short diversions from the main route and allows for extensive hill walking or more level walks in the countryside.  Most level walks require stout footwear especially in wet weather but hill-walkers must have strong boots and proper all-weather clothing.  The hills can be treacherous!

Take the A9 (T) exit north from Stirling, crossing the 1833 road bridge, with the 15^th century Old Bridge (now pedestrianised and floodlit at night) on your left.  (Parking round the corner beyond LEFT filter at traffic lights.)  Causewayhead Road leads towards the Wallace Monument signed from the roundabout – take 2^nd exit.  In approximately half a mile, car park on RIGHT.  The monument to William Wallace, Scottish hero at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, is reached by a steep wooded walk.  A shuttle bus, the ‘Monument Climber’ leaves every 10 minutes during the summer season.  Leave the car park and turn RIGHT.  In quarter of a mile turn LEFT into the rear entrance of the University of Stirling – signpost indicates Innovation Park. Drive through the campus parking at one of the several designated car parking areas.  It may be difficult to park during the semesters.  Walking through the wooded and landscaped grounds and around the Airthrey Loch is encouraged.  Retrace route to public highway and turn LEFT.  In just under one mile turn LEFT at sign Logie Kirk.  Leave vehicle in car park.  Walk to Logie Kirk and beyond to Logie Old Church, now in ruins.  Burial ground of the Grahams and other interesting old gravestones.  From the car park a hill walk to Dumyat, height 419m.  Not signposted but follow track along the south and east walls of the Logie Kirk churchyard.  Allow at least 2 hours for the walk in good weather conditions.  At the junction with the A91 turn LEFT and pass the village of Blairlogie.  Car park beyond the village with restricted headroom – 2m.  Walk back to the village along roadside footpath or take field path at rear of car park, LEFT for village, RIGHT for hill walk to Dumyat,.  Depart LEFT from car park to Menstrie.

In centre of village, signpost indicates Menstrie Castle NTS on RIGHT.  Birthplace of Sir William Alexander with Nova Scotia Room displays (limited opening times). Rejoin A91 turning RIGHT towards Alva.

 On entering Alva pass the Cochrane Park and LEFT into Mill Trail Visitor Centre with exhibition, audio visual presentation, Tourist Information Centre, shop, refreshments, toilets, bureau de change and designer outlet.  LEFT from car park to village centre.  Signpost LEFT to Alva Glen, wooded walk.  Return to main road and LEFT through village.  Several mill shops on RIGHT.  At east edge of village access on LEFT to Woodland Country Park with walks, play equipment, picnic area and information panel.  Regain main road and continue east to Tillicoultry.  Signpost to Mill Glen hill walk on LEFT.

 Continue through village eastwards to Dollar.  In village centre, signpost and road on LEFT to Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell NTS - castle built in the late 15^th century.  Follow signs to car parks up a steep road and then walk to the castle.  Return route back to main road.  At this point return along A91 towards Stirling.  In approximately 2 miles a small parking area, on a bend, gives access to Devon Way, a level walk along a disused railway linking Dollar-Tillicoultry.  Picnic tables and information panel.  Continue towards Stirling but in Tillicoultry turn LEFT at sign indicating Mill Trail / Alloa / Gartmorn Dam.  In quarter of mile on LEFT is Sterling Warehouse (furniture / garden centre / restaurants – reputed to be largest furniture store in Britain).  On RIGHT Sterling Mills – designer retail park.  Continue through the villages of Devonside, Benview, Devon Village, Fishcross and Sauchie.  In the centre of Sauchie, just past pedestrian lights, turn LEFT through housing estate to Gartmorn Dam Country Park.  Drive slowly – the road has 20 ‘sleeping policemen’.  Country Park has visitor centre, ranger service, permit fishing, toilets, lochside walks, etc.  Return to main road and LEFT towards Alloa.  At roundabout take 2^nd exit (B909) and follow signs to Kincardine Bridge / Clackmannan A907.  In Clackmannan village, park and view Mercat Cross, Tolbooth, Standing Stone and walk along north side of churchyard wall to Clackmannan Tower once the residence of the Bruce family.  No internal Access.  Retrace route to Alloa.  At roundabout take 3^rd exit towards town centre passing former Alloa Brewery on the right.  At large roundabout follow signs to Alloa Tower – 2^nd exit (1^st exit from Clackmannan).  The ancestral home for four centuries of the Earls of Mar.  Restored in the 1990s and opened to the public. Retrace route to roundabout and follow signs A907 to Stirling.  At the foot of the Abbey Craig (Wallace Monument on summit) signs indicates LEFT to Cambuskenneth Abbey.  One mile to village and ruined Abbey at end of road.  An Augustinian Abbey founded by King David I. Within the grounds is buried James III and his queen, Princess Margaret of Denmark.

 VISITOR ATTRACTIONS