Stirling

Castle & River

Doune Castle and River Teith

Distance: 1.75 miles/2.8km, Time: 1 hour

Birds by a river A scenic route passing Doune Castle, following the river bank and returning through the village. Some narrow and muddy sections with short slopes.

Starting at the Information Centre in Doune, turn left and left again into Castlehill Court, left again in to Castlehill then right onto a local sports field. Here the path skirts the edge of the playing field following the edge of an old Roman Fort before crossing into a small wood. There is evidence of Roman occupation throughout the area from Callander to Braco and Roman fortifications have been discovered in the area close to the castle. Newer discoveries have shown that the Romans had a medical ward underneath the present Primary School dating back 2,000 years.

There is an unusual view of the medieval castle through the trees as you follow the waymarkers through the woodland and round to the car park. Beware of traffic.

The route now passes to the left of the castle then left past the water treatment works through a wonderful Blackthorn tunnel to ‘The Mouth of Ardoch’. In early summer the grassland area around the point has a superb variety of wildflowers including Yellow Rattle, Pignut, Water Avens, Red Campion and Stitchwort. The earliest settlements in Doune are believed to have been on the banks of the Ardoch.

From here follow the river upstream for around 1/2 mile, crossing over the bridge and through the kissing gate, before passing ‘Gamekeeper’s Cottage’ and exiting onto Dan Doo’s Brae on the A84. Dan Doo’s Brae is named after Duncan Dow who was one of the gamekeepers that lived in the cottage.

Head uphill, turning first right into Muir Crescent, then right into George Street to the Cross. Returning to the Information Centre right along Main Street.