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STIRLING TOURIST ASSOCIATION |
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| STIRLING
AND SOUTH WEST
This is a drive which will take you off the regular tourist routes and into the peaceful hills stretching south and west of Stirling. Choose an afternoon of clear sunny weather for the views can be superb – and don’t rush! The roads are narrow and twisty and some are single-track and unclassified. Take the Glasgow Road south from St Ninian’s roundabout, turning RIGHT JUST AFTER THE Battle of Bannockburn Heritage Centre onto the road signed ‘Chartershall/Carron Bridge’. After less than 200 metres, Turn LEFT onto ‘the long line’, which crosses over the motorway. Behind you the views are impressive (for your passengers), across the wide expanse of the Forth valley to the Grampians and the Ochils with Stirling Castle on its strategic crag in the middle. Near her was fought the Battle of Sauchieburn (1488) in which James III met his death. The
road now starts to twist and rise and fall, passing Howietoun Fish
Hatchery on the right and, later on, Loch Coulter on the left.
At Carron Bridge Inn turn RIGHT onto the B818.
(If you have time, a 2
mile diversion south, over the junction, and over Carron Bridge (1695)
on the ‘Tak-ma-doon’ road
for Kilsyth brings you to a signposted hill-crest car park and
viewpoint on your LEFT from
which the whole width of southern Scotland is revealed, from the Forth
Bridges and Bass Rock in the east to Ailsa Craig in the west.
Return to Carron Bridge
Inn and turn LEFT.) The Carron Valley Reservoir area offers secluded picnic spots and woodland walks along the waterside. The road runs for 4 miles along the reservoir, water supply for Falkirk and Grangemouth, and a popular fishing spot. (For details and permits ring 01786 442000.) Just before the far end of the reservoir a narrow road leads t the RIGHT. Follow this for half a mile and then turn RIGHT up a winding forestry road marked ‘Grahams Castle’. A few hundred metres brings you to a stand of tall larch trees on your RIGHT. A path through the trees leads to a grassy patch overlooking the reservoir with the hill, Meikle Bin, beyond. This is the site of the castle of John de Graham, a brave colleague of William Wallace, who was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. You have a choice of routes back to Stirling after returning down the forestry road …… A) Turn RIGHT to continue on the single-track road which threads its way higher and higher towards the Decca navigation mast on Earls Hill. Just west of the summit, near a little waterfall, there is a roadside parking area marking the start of a walking tract to the two Earlsburn reservoirs, originally constructed to supply water to the Carron Ironworks near Falkirk. From the summit the road descends in a series of steep swoops towards North Third reservoir and eventually Stirling. Altogether a delightful drive in fine weather but not for the inexperienced driver. Negotiating the narrow road in the face of approaching traffic calls for patience and manoeuvring skill. B)
Turning LEFT to regain the B818, a RIGHT turn now brings you
past the reservoir’s second (!) dam, 4/10ths of a mile beyond the
hump-backed bridge, an abbreviated parking bay near a wicket gate on
your LEFT gives access to a 10 minute walk on a level path leading to
the River Endrick at the |
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Loup of Fintry, a 94’ high cascade.