This excellent moderate walk encircles the attractive North Third reservoir. The route climbs up to the top of the craggy escarpment of Lewis Hill with superb views before descending to cross the dam and continue around the shore.
Paths throughout, can be muddy and rough. Steep up and down from the crags.
None.
Laybys near bridge over Bannock Burn on minor road.
The North Third reservoir is accessed via minor roads to the west of Stirling; find a place to park in one of several rough laybys along the road near the road bridge over the tiny Bannock Burn. Begin the walk by heading a short distance - 50m or so - further south along the road from the burn, looking out for a yellow waymarker post that indicates a path going off into the woods on the left from a layby. Follow this as it climbs up through the woodland, giving an occasional view over the reservoir, until it meets a larger path (which left the road slightly further south) at a t-junction. Turn left here.
The path continues climbing, descends slightly for a more open section and then climbs again through the trees, eventually leaving them behind to give more open views over the reservoir and the start of the Lewis Hill escarpment. Follow the path, keeping the crags on the left, until it reaches the white-washed trig point on the summit. There are superb views both over the reservoir far below and towards the Highland Bens including prominent Ben Ledi, Stùc a'Chròin and Ben Vorlich.
In places further on the escarpment edge is riven into strangely eroded rock pinnacles, making a perfect foreground. Continue along the main path - ignoring minor forks - until it descends steeply in a series of wide zig-zags. At the foot of these bear left, then, near another wooden marker post, take a path off to the left.
This path is muddy for a time. It reaches a wire fence which blocked it - but the lower strand has been removed so you can stoop under. On the far side the path bears right and leads to and then across the reservoir dam, built of earth in the 1930s but crowned with some decorative stonework. Cross the dam, which is in two sections, then pick up a grassy path that continues round the shore of the far side of the reservoir.
The path gives good views back across the water to a couple of islands, with Lewis Hill above. A reservoir it may be but the shores are still a delight; pass a large white shed and continue, crossing a wooden footbridge to reach the site of an old fishery. Continue on the path which climbs slightly beside a fence enclosing the reservoir. This eventually approaches the Bannock Burn at a footbridge. Cross this and then turn right alongside the burn to follow a small path back to the road and the laybys.
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