Callander Park is a vast area of wooded parkland within easy reach of the centre of Falkirk. The highlight is Callander House, one of Scotland's finest Baronial Mansions.
Bog Factor
Tracks through woodland park; can be a little muddy at times.
Callendar Park car park.
The start of the walk is a short distance from Falkirk bus station and town centre.
NS893794
There is a good sized car park near the entrance to Callendar Park. Begin the walk along the tarred walkway which begins past the vehicle barrier. Lined by some magnificent mature trees, the route passes close to a cairn which commemorates the 1298 Battle of Falkirk which saw William Wallace defeated by the English army of King Edward I. Continue ahead when another walkway joins in from the right, soon passing an childrens adventure playground.
Continue straight ahead past the kiosk and soon reach the hugely impressive Callendar House. One of Scotland's finest Baronial Mansions, the house has played host to figures such as Bonnie Prince Charlie, Mary Queen of Scots and Oliver Cromwell. Today it is run by the local council; a great highlight of a visit is the working Georgian kitchen, complete with costumed staff. Go straight ahead across the front of the house.
Soon there are views down onto Callendar Loch on the right; it is possible to hire boats in the summer. Continue to the far end and then fork right onto a path through the trees above a circular steel scuplture. Pass a sign for Callander Woods; from here the route is waymarked with blue markers, so ignore the other routes that head off right and keep straight ahead. Eventually the earth track swings right; continue to ignore paths off to either side and follow the main track ahead, continuing to curve right.
The path now continues dead straight for a long way. There are several junctions - including crossing a larger track (signed for Callander House to the right). Keep straight on all the time.
Eventually the route curves to the right with an open grassy hill to the left. This is Henry's Hill; it is worth a quick detour up the rougher grassy path onto it for the views over the Forth and the Kelpies towards the great wall of the Ochils, with their highest summit Ben Cleuch. Return to the blue route, again keeping straight on and ignoring paths off to the right, until a cross-junction is reached with an old kennels building - enclosed in iron railings - over to the left. At this point turn right, downhill.
Ignore a track off to the left, and continue ahead when another path runs across the route but keep left at the fork just beyond, marked blue and yellow. Keep straight ahead until the path comes alongside a road beside the tower blocks of Falkirk. Soon turn right again back into the park, signed as part of the John Muir Way. Finally cross a stone bridge and then turn left to return to the car park and the start.
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