Little Carse Route (Bridge of Allan)
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 4.5 kms | 01:15 (hrs:mins) | 0 metres | Explorer 366 - Stirling and Ochil Hills West |
Description
From Fountain Road car park, walk left up to Henderson Street and turn left again. Walk past the shops and towards the bridge. Before you cross the bridge, look over the edge, across the other side you can see what used to be the continuation of Henderson St (then Station Rd). The old bridge was at a different angle from todays and if you look down into the water you can make out the bottoms of the old supports. The first recorded bridge was built in 1520 it was restored in 1695 at a cost of £220 and was heightened and strengthened in 1842. The present bridge was built between 1957-1960 at a cost of £135,000, it was built in 2 parts so traffic could continue to cross.
Cross straight over the Bridge and walk up the side of the road towards Lecropt Kirk. Just before you reach the Kirk a path/road goes off to your left. Walk down here and down the steps to the road follow this down and round the curve to the left. You are now down on the carseland (flat river floor) where the River Teith used to flow leaving large flat open areas. Walk straight along this section of road and onto the field, follow the edge of the field around to your left and along the edge of the factory. At the end of the factory building cross over the ditch and onto the road, walk along the verge and under the railway bridge. You are now on Inverallan Road. The large factory on you right behind the houses used to be Pullars Bleach and Dye works ? from the late 1800?s to the 1960?s there were a number of dye works along the Allan Water causing it to be badly polluted and leaving it with almost no Salmon. It is much cleaner now and the water quality is rated as excellent. Some of the houses along here were houses for the workers.
Further along you will cross over the old main street (Station Road) as viewed earlier. The Bridge Inn was built in 1710 and the old mill also built in 1710 was in use until the 1950?s. If you walk along Station Road towards the river you will see the Lade running alongside the river that flows down to the factory. Walk back up on to Henderson St to complete the walk.
Access Info
This walk begins from the Fountain Road car park in Bridge of Allan
Additional Info
This walk appears in the Community Paths Bridge of Allan Walks Leaflet. To obtain a copy, contact the Stirling Council's Countryside Service on 01786 442971.
