Wee stroll on Meikle Bin

[gammy leg walker]

Did not intend to go out this weekend but cabin fever set in,so left house on Sat 12.30 heading for Meikle Bin 20 min drive away .got to the carpark at Todholes Farm on the b818 Denny/Fintry road and on my way by 12.50

todhole farm carpark

.made my way through the barrier and followed the disused forestry track,with 1st view across Carron Valley Dam

carron dam

.
The track is easy walking,and soon you pass the 1st track heading of to the right,DO NOT TAKE THE TURNING,

carry straight on

a little way after a 2nd track heads of right,again carry straight on

again carry straight on

.Soon the 1st view of Meikle Bin comes into site

meikle bin

,very shortly you cross the small stream that feeds down into the dam

bridge over small stream

a little further on you come to a fork,where you take the right fork

right fork

slowly starting to gain height now still on the track,you now come to another track heading of to the right,again carry straight on

carry straight on once more

.finally you come to the correct turning to the right

turn right on track

once past this the views will start to open up

starting to open up

meikle bin

nice view

very soon you come to a small opening in the conifers,where you leave the track and take to the open hillside

leave here

this opening is very easy to find(a small pile of stones marks the way)once clear of the trees,you only have a 10 min climb to the summit,with good views on the way up

over to earls seat

back to dam

earls seat

back to dam

2/3rds of way up now and you pass the remains of a WW2 bomber,think the story goes they ran out of fuel and crashed,not sure if its British

wreckage

finally you reach the trig point

trig point

with some nice view all around

nice view

nice

had a wee 20min break here and noticed that joannies dam was being drained(anyone no why !)

joannies dam

.you can continue over the top of the summit and pick up the track on the far side of the dam to make this a full circuit,or re trace your steps back the way you have come,hope this report is not to long winded for such a small walk,but this is one of my favourite walks,hope you enjoy

[Alan S]

You kept that one quiet, i drove by the car park about half 2 and i never even seen the car

[gammy leg walker]

Car was there mate,did not get back to car till 2.45,you must be going blind

[JB likes a beer]

good report mate,looking forward to next week hoping weather is the same ,bet it was good to get legs stretched nice views will need to try this,maybe even take aileen

[2dalmatians]

Great walk route description. I live in kippen so this isn't too far from me. I will defintely do this walk now.

[gammy leg walker]

good report mate,looking forward to next week hoping weather is the same ,bet it was good to get legs stretched nice views will need to try this,maybe even take aileen

[gammy leg walker]

Ta 2dalmations,good walk for the dogs also,as no sheep on the walk,look forward to seeing your pics

[smudger71]

Hi,

i took the kids up here earlier in the year and your right it is a lovely walk...wierd about the dam being drained... i sometimes run along the top from Tomtain car park and back so i'll go and take a look this weekend.

I beleive the plane parts are from a 2 seater plane that crashed on the hill in the 70's...if you go further down the slope on the east side, just before the tree line there are the remnants of the engine...

mark

[gammy leg walker]

More info into the plane wreckage on Meikle Bin smudger 71,it"s a Fairey Firefly 2 seat recon plane used by the RAF.The crash happened on 8th January 1950,both pilot,LT Arthur Robertson from Glasgow and observer Naval Airman J.Smith from Paisley died in this crash.