Stirling

Kinbuck

Ashfield & Kinbuck

by Allan Water (6 1/2 miles/10.6km/3 hours 20 mins.)

An easy walk by the magnificent Allan Water to Kinbuck via Ashfield (During the early 19th Century there were at least seven mills established along the Allan, in Dunblane, tapping the power of the river to produce meal, linen and woollen goods)

From the car park behind the cathedral take the Haining” and follow the Allan Water upstream. Pass under the railway bridge and enter Laighhills Park. After crossing the Scouring Burn take the right-hand path uphill and cross the railway by the footbridge on your right. The path leads towards the Scouring Burn, but instead of crossing the burn, go on until you reach the sign for Ashfield. Turn left up a small rise and continue until you meet the railway. Go right following both the railway and river passing under the Dunblane by-pass.

Continue along the riverbank, passing under the railway until you reach a fork in the path.

From this point there are two options:

1. Take the left-hand fork down to a wooden footbridge over the river to join up with return leg of walk 6 (3miles/6.2km/1 hr 30mins to Dunblane).

2. Take the right hand path and follow the railway on into the planned industrial village of Ashfield (2 miles/3.2 km/I hour). Continue along the main road, and leave Ashfield northwards via the footpath at the bus shelter. Go on along this path until you meet the access track to Craigton Farm. Cross the stile and follow the field edge to the far end and cross another stile. Follow the path by the river, then uphill to meet the road as it enters Kinbuck. ( n.b. In winter this field is often flooded.) (As an alternative, head right at the Craigton track, pass under the railway bridge to join up with the B8033. At the main road turn left and go on to the bridge over the railway).

Continue on through Kinbuck village (3 miles/4.8 km/1 hr 30 mins) and cross the Allan Water at Kinbuck Bridge.

(On the night before the battle of Sheriffmuir (13 November 1715), Kinbuck saw some 6000 Jacobite infantrymen spend the night packed into whatever shelter they could find around the village. They moved uphill before dawn to confront the Hanoverian army during the morning).

To return to Dunblane take the quiet road on the left, past the back entrance to Cromlix Estate, one of the finest country hotels in the area.

Continue along Auchinlay Road past Crofts of Cromlix and on into Dunblane. Mineral wells were discovered at Crofts of Cromlix in 1813 and established Dunblane as a spa town with the associated building of the Dunblane Hydro. The popularity of Dunblane water was brief and declined after about thirty years when wells were discovered at Bridge of Allan. On entering the town a path by the converted Springbank Mill leads to the Faery Bridge over the Allan Water. Once across the footbridge bear right and return to the Cathedral car park.