Dunblane to Stirling
Date: 30th July 2022
Leader: David Clark
Grade: C+
Number on walk: 14 including two visitors from the Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire group of Ramblers
Click here for GPX track of the walk
Dunblane Cathedral – the starting point of our walk
Crossing the Wharry Burn, in Kippenrait Glen, as we walked alongside the Allan water
Our mid-morning break on the Allan Water sitting on the remains of the weir for Airthrey Mill
Airthrey Mill was a 20th century paper mill closed in 1946 and demolished in the sixties.
An entrance to the old copper mine in the Hill of Airthrey above Bridge of Allan
This mine was operational in the 17th century and worked intermittently until 1815.
A view looking across Bridge of Allan to Carleatheran with Stirling Castle on the left
Bridge of Allan was developed as a spa town in the mid-19th century due to the mineral rich waters draining from the nearby copper mine
The Wallace Monument seen from the grounds of Stirling University
Airthrey Loch
An artificial loch in the grounds of Stirling University created in the later 18th century as part of a designed landscape surrounding Airthrey Castle.
Our group arriving at the foot of the Wallace Monument after the steep 65m ascent from the visitor centre
The Wallace Monument was completed in 1869 to celebrate the life and deeds of William Wallace
A view of Stirling Castle from the Wallace Monument
Note the almost complete ox-bow lake formed by the River Forth
The surviving 13th century campanile (bell tower) at Cambuskenneth Abbey
Other than this tower, only foundations remain of this 12th century Augustinian monastery