Explore the quiet rolling countryside of Strath Avon and the mysterious Earth House before following the river and returning on a minor road.
Bog Factor
Farm track and paths, final section on minor road. There is usually alot of livestock on the route - especially on the detour to the earth house.
Balcorach car park, off Fodderletter road (branch from B9136), just west of bridge.
None to start.
NJ154265
The walk starts from the small Balcorach car park; turn off the B9136 onto the Fodderletter road and the car park is just off to the right after crossing the bridge over the River Avon. From the car park follow the track signed for Knock Earth House and West Avonside, following the River Avon.
Just after a gate and cattle grid take the track signed for Earth House to the left. This runs along the edge of pastureland, soon curving right, passing through a gate and then reaching a derelict house at Knock. Keep on the track ahead, ignoring the signed footpath for Cromdale heading left, and then the driveway off left to a second house (which has a tower), but shortly after this look out for a stile and gate giving access to the field on the left.
Go around the edge of the field (or diagonally across if no crop is growing) to reach the fenced enclosure of Knock Earth House. This stone-lined chamber was discovered by a farm worker in the 1960s. It is thought it could have been a Bronze Age souterrain, or earth house, used for storing food at an even, cool ttemperature. It was later adapted in the 18th century for use as an illicit whisky still, with a corn drying kiln built at the entrance possibly to disguise it.
From the earth house retrace the route back towards the riverside track in stage 1, and turn left to continue along the track - signed for West Avonside. This passes through several fields and eventually heads away from the river to pass through a small area of alder trees where a footbridge bypasses a ford. Further on climb a stile and follow a track left uphill, then swinging right though birch and rowan woodland. Eventually it passes the house at Altnaha.
Past the house the track descends and then reclimbs steeply to a second house at Lyne. Just before the house turn right into the open field and head downhill keeping a fence on your left. Follow the telegraph poles, heading through a narrow gap in the fence and not descending into the steep rough ground next to the All na Ha burn.
The route now curves to the left to follow a grassy track. Continue until a gate in the fence on your right - head for this and then turn sharp left onto a path to reach a suspension footbridge over the River Avon. Bear left on the far side of the bridge and climb the stile at the other side of the field to climb the old path up to the road (B9136). Turn right here to follow the minor road back to the start, crossing the bridge at Balcorach to reach the parking area on the right.
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