Clackmannan and the Towers

This circular links the old county town of Clackmannan with the new one, Alloa, visiting two fine medieval tower houses along the way. There are views towards the Ochils but also large housing estates to negotiate which now surround the Alloa tower.

Terrain

Route indistinct shortly after Clackmannan Tower and can be muddy. Careful navigation needed.

Public Transport

Bus or train to Clackmannan - or Alloa.

Start

Tolbooth, Clackmannan. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.25km / 4 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 78m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NS911918

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk can be started from either Clackmannan or Alloa; here it is described starting from Clackmannan Tolbooth, where there is on-street parking, in the centre of town. The Tolbooth is worth more than a glance; until the nineteenth century these buildings were the centres of local government, also acting as prisons and court-houses. Originally the Tolbooth was part of a larger building, now demolished. Beside it is a boulder balanced on top of a much larger stone. The boulder is the Clach Mannan - the stone of Manann, a Celtic god, and is thought to have been used in ancient religious festivals. It was originally near the Forth which once extended to the town, was moved to the tower before being moved here in 1833. The giant rock on which it stands was brought from Abbey Craig - site of the Wallace Monument, in 1833 and was dragged here by 16 horses.

Stage 2

The walk begins by heading uphill along High Street, away from the shops. Go through a gate at the top and continue ahead to reach Clackmannan Tower, set on a grassy hilltop with fine views over the Ochils and the Forth. Construction of the tower began in 1359 as the home of Sir Robert Bruce; it was extended to its current height in the fifteenth century. Later an attached mansion was built but this was later demolished and some of the stones used in the current parish church. Mine-workings caused subsidence and the collapse of part of the tower in 1948 but Historic Scotland has now repaired it; it is open to the public only on certain days.

Stage 3

Go through the gate and pass the left side of the tower, continuing along the hilltop to pass through a kissing gate. After a further kissing gate continue ahead, now downhill through grassy pastures interspersed with trees. Cross an old turf dyke and then bear slightly left to reach the boundary of the next field where the wall becomes a fence - there is a stile here. Cross the stile and then turn right along the field edge, entering the woods at another kissing gate. Continue into the woods until a path joins from the right; turn left here on a less obvious path that leads down to the burn below. Turn left on the path which heads downstream beside the burn.

Stage 4

Cross a hump-backed bridge and continue straight ahead along a track until it meets a cycle path; follow this up to the road on the left; cross this and continue on the cycle path opposite, heading through a modern housing estate. Soon it passes through woodland before reaching a road at a bend; go straight ahead along the road, now passing through an older council estate. Go straight along the road until following the pavement to the left to pass behind a bus shelter; join Kilncraigs Road beyond.

Stage 5

Look out on the right for the Alloa Tower. This is one the largest of Scotland's surviving Medieval towerhouses; and was a residence of the Earls of Mar, the Erskine family. It is now managed by the National Trust for Scotland and is usually open from May to October. To continue the walk, head across Kilncraigs road directly opposite the entrance to the tower and cross the grassy area. It joins a road near a junction; go straight ahead on the larger road and then turn left at the next bend onto Riverside View.

Stage 6

Take the second left to head onto a track past a metal barrier. The track leads round to the right past a gas pumping station and then out into the wide open flats of the Black Devon Wetland, a nature reserve with a twin line of pylons marching across it. Continue almost to the pylons and then take a path off to the left that runs parallel to the power lines at first. The path then curves left and reaches a bridge over a drainage channel. Cross this and follow the grassy track ahead, with views back towards Clackmannan Tower on its hill over to the left. The lane leads eventually onto a minor road; follow this up to a T-junction in Clackmannan. Turn left here to soon return to the Tolbooth and the start.

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