John Muir Way: Croy to Falkirk

Summary

The fourth stage of the John Muir Way starts with a short climb to Croy Hill which as well as being the site of a Roman fort has great views towards the Campsie Fells. After following the line of the Antonine Wall for a short section, the route passes the Silvanus sculpture and then picks up the Forth and Clyde Canal towpath which is followed to Bonnybridge then the spectacular Falkirk Wheel before the route leaves the canal before rejoining it to reach Falkirk High Station where the stage ends. Falkirk has all facilities.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Grassy path on Croy Hill, sometimes muddy, canal tow path to Falkirk.

Getting there

Start

Croy.

Public Transport

Train at Croy and Falkirk, bus at Falkirk and Bonnybridge.

Start Grid Ref

NS721762

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 20km / 12.5 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 176m (Profile)

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Explorer 349 - Falkirk

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Walk Description

User reports (5)

Stage 1

Rejoin the John Muir Way just north of Croy on the B802, 0.5km south of Auchinstarry marina near Kilsyth. The signed route continues opposite the track where the last section finished (on the right hand side of the road as you face north), where there is a kissing gate beside a tree. From here follow the path straight ahead and turn right at a fenced enclosure to follow a surfaced track a short distance before turning left after a gate signed for Croy Hill. Continue ahead to reach a path and then a gate marked Croy Hill; the ditch of the Antonine Wall is prominent on your left. Follow the main grassy path on the line of the Antonine Wall, keeping the ditch on your left; keep left when the path forks to climb a mound formed from the material dug from the ditch. Although the remains of the fort are not prominent, you can see the two hillocks which served as beacon platforms and the ditch is impressive here as it was cut through solid rock. Near the top is a short section where the ditch remains undug and this may have been because the hard basalt defeated the Roman army or the point where two digging teams met.

Stage 2

Continue along the path on top of the ridge - with stunning views - and go straight ahead crossing a path (the site of the fort itself was just to the right here) towards a marker post ahead and soon pass a ground-level information board about Croy Hill. The site has been excavated twice and found to comprise of two forts (one superseding the other as the plans for the Wall changed during the 2 years it took to construct) and a bath house just outside one fort. Remains of a civilian settlement dating back to Roman times was also found and it is likely that this was established to trade with the Roman soldiers, providing food and services.

Stage 3

Continue gently downhill and pass under the electricity lines and turn left onto a path signed for Castlecary. The impressive Silvanus sculpture is reached; ignore the turning on the right here, instead continuing and instead taking the next path on the right which heads downhill, zig-zagging through trees with views of the canal to emerge on a minor road. Turn left to cross the canal and then bear right onto the towpath to walk east towards Falkirk. The canal runs wide and straight for some distance as it cuts through the Dullater Marsh SSSI - a particularly remote section of the canal. Leaving this beautifully desolate wilderness at Wyndford Lock the canal bends to the right before being confronted by the busy A80 bridge. The construction of this road led to the closure of the canal to traffic in 1960s to prevent the need to install a bridge, but has recently had to be raised in order to reopen the waterway at huge cost.

Stage 4

There now follows a smaller road bridge, then a flight of three locks down to Underwood. The canal continues to follow the course of the Antonine Wall which lies on the southern bank. Eventually the canal passes through Bonnybridge, with an interesting vertical lift road bridge. Bonnybridge has all facililties and would make an alternative end point or overnight stop for this section of the Way if required. At the main road here turn left away from the canal, then take the next right by a garage to follow a lane that passes beneath the canal through a tunnel. Bear left along Bonnymuir Place, following the road all the way to the end, past houses and industrial units.

Stage 5

It then becomes a narrower road, goes up over the railway and alongside a wood. Eventually the Antonine Wall is reached on the left, go through the gate and follow the ridge of the old Roman defensive wall ahead. Built by the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius in AD 142 - 143, it marked the most northerly boundary of the Roman empire. Running for 37 miles it consisted of a high turf wall on which a timber fortification would have stood, and a deep ditch. After the car park head along the surfaced track, which is an old Roman military road to reach the first information board. Make sure you don't miss the lilia, deep holes which would have contained sharpened stakes and been camouflaged with brushwood as an extra deterrent to potential attackers. These are on the left side of the Antonine Wall after a deep dip where it a small bridge crosses a stream.

Stage 6

Continue east from the Lilia to pick up a path which heads along the northern edge of the site before looping left to come close to the railway. It then curves back right through an area of gorve. Soon a junction is reached with the Falkirk Wheel to the left. The Falkirk Wheel is a spectacular and outsize piece of engineering. Both beautiful and practical it rotates to lift boats the 24 metres between the Forth and Clyde canal and the much higher Union Canal. It opened in 2002 having been completed on time and on budget, reconnecting the two canals linking Glasgow and Edinburgh. The wheel is a popular tourist attraction and you can take a boat ride on it as well as visiting the exhibition and cafe. At the junction turn left to head downhill and under the boatlift.

Stage 7

Once under the wheel bear right to follow a path along the top edge of the grassy area, with the woodland on your right. This reaches the bus turning area and wheel entrance; follow the road to the right to reach a mini roundabout. Go straight across this, following the lane which curves left when it reaches the railway fence. Keep on the lane as it crosses a bridge over the railway and then the canal. Ignore a branch track to the right, keeping straight ahead before taking a track on the left at the woods. Keep ahead along this track until it almost meets a minor road; you can avoid walking the tarmac by taking to a path running parallel on the right. When the monument to the Battle of Falkirk is reached cross the road and take the path opposite beside the monument. Bear right by a pipeline to join a better path, following this eastwards.

Stage 8

When the path emerges onto a tarmac driveway (with car park entrance opposite) turn left, passing allotments on your left before curving left and then right where a bench has a great view over Falkirk, to the Kelpie sculptures and the hills beyond. Bear right to pass the house and stay on the track over a stone bridge, signed for Union Canal. Cross the canal bridge and turn right onto the towpath for a peaceful section of canal with some good views in places. Once past a vehicle barrier and just before a canal tunnel turn left (signed Falkirk), go through the tunnel under the railway then up steps on the right and cross the car park to reach the end of the stage at Falkirk High station. To continue to the centre of Falkirk stay on this road all the way downhill.

Next stage: Falkirk to Linlithgow

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