There are 6 local walks in and around the village of Kippen (highlighted in purple on the map).

 

Each walk covers a route that offers spectacular
views of the surrounding countryside and there
are a wealth of good vantage points to appreciate
them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first few walks are relatively short and provide 3 routes around the village.
Many of these routes highlight aspects of local history as many remnants of the
former life of the village can still be seen.

The remaining 3 routes are progressively longer with the furthest away point high in the
Gargunnock hills. The climb is well worth the effort when you see the panorama that
stretches before you - from Ben Lomond in the west to beyond Stirling Castle in the east.

Wildlife is varied and abundant on all of the walks, with the opportunity to see something different on each due to the diverse terrain.

Kippen Curling Pond

From the Cross, begin your walk in a clockwise direction by making your way down Burnside Road. This street crosses a small burn and heads out of the village. This was part of a drover road in former times that ran all the way to Stirling.

Once out of the village, the views to the left are of the Carse of Stirling, a fertile valley and one of the largest areas of flat land in the whole country. Beyond the carse are the mountains to the north that mark the start of the highlands. To the East are the Ochil hills, and on a clear day, the spire of the Wallace Monument can be seen.

At the first junction, bear to the right and then right again to the gate that marks the entrance to the Kippen Common. Beyond the gate and to the left is the old Curling Pond - scene of many a match in years gone by. Curling is a game that originated in Scotland and has recently become popular with players from all over the world (its an olympic event now). Similar to lawn bowls in many respects, the game involves sliding granite stones over the surface of a frozen stretch of water to settle on a target at the far end. The modern game is played indoors in ice-rinks but before this, the game was played outdoors on frozen ponds, rivers or lochs in the winter.

The pond is home to many aquatic creatures, including fish and frogs. Plant life is diverse, with a variety of flowering species evident throughout the year. The pond area is perfect for dragon flies. These insects with their iridescent coloured bodies and can be seen hovering over the water in the summer months.

This route will reveal birds from many different habitats, from open farmland to woodland to urban. Common species are the numerous small birds such as the house, hedge and tree sparrows, the chaffinch, bullfinch, greenfinch and goldfinches, song thrushes, blackbirds, robins, wrens, great tits and blue tits, pied wagtails and yellowhammers, and a variety of buntings and siskins. House martins and swallows are two summer visitors that return year after year, often to the same nest. On open farmland, there are larger birds such as oystercatchers, snipes, curlews, lapwings and plovers (peewits). Waterways attract herons, ducks, swans and coots. Birds of prey such as owls and hawks may often be seen patrolling the hedgerows and fields. Watch for the hovering merlin or the swooping hen harrier, the female of which will take a pigeon with no problem.

Following the track, the woodland area opens out on to the Common, skirting the perimeter of the local football field. From here the path joins a rough road that leads back into the village, returning to the Cross via Castlehill Loan.

The Famous Kippen Vine

Starting at the cross, make your way down Burnside Road, walking the route in a clockwise direction.

Once out of the village, bear right at the fork in the road. Instead of following the footpath sign onto the common, stay on the road and follow it around the corner and up the hill through the Burnside Wood.

A good distance up the brae, a road cuts off to the right, follow this down to the house and take the foot path at the end of the road.

At length, the track will take you to Cauldhame on the western end of the village and you will pass the site of the Old Kippen Vinery, (now gone).

In 1899 the Forth Valley Vineyards were established in Cauldhame. The main vine was planted in 1891 and claimed in 1961 to be the largest in the world, covering over 5000 square feet of roof space.

In addition to the grapes, the vine leaves were given a special treatment to preserve their autumn colours and were sent to London as much desired table decorations. Most unfortunately the vineyard was sold in 1964 and broken up – though cuttings of the great vine still thrive in the conservatories of Kippen.

From Cauldhame, follow the Main Street back down the hill to the Cross.

On this route you will see grazing horses, woodland birds and animals and spectacular views of the Trossachs region.

Mid-Summer Sunset behind Ben Ledi

Starting at the Cross, walk in an anti-clockwise direction down Rennies Loan to the end of the cobbles. From here on, the terrain is rather soft and muddy under foot and appropriate footwear is recommended. From the high vantage points all along this track, the valley floor unfolds beneath you. To the north is the mountains and underneath them is the village of Thornhill over on the other side of the valley.To the east is some 9 miles of continuous carseland ending at Stirling.

Follow this section until you join the tarred road. This road was once the A811, but was made redundant by the construction of a new by-pass section lower down on the valley below. Join the B8037 (Fore Road) and walk a short distance towards the village before joining the route to Arngomery and the Broich.

Heading along the estate road to Arngomery, there is a gate at the second corner that marks the start of the track section that goes through woodlands to emerge just before the Broich Mill. From the Broich, take the road to Point-End (the fork in the road at Cauldhame) then travel down the Main Street to the Cross once more.

The spectacular sunset shown above was photographed one evening at 10.30pm looking over to Ben Ledi from the old A811 road (mentioned above). This was July the 9th and shows how light it can be at night during high summer - in fact on clear nights it never gets totally dark. Dawn was around 3.30am (some 4.5 hours after sunset). At this time of year the sun sets in the north west and rises in the north east.

Notable things on this route are the Blacksmiths Shop at Rennies Loan (named after Andrew Rennie, the last of a long line of Blacksmiths in the village). Lots of farm animals can be seen in the fields below the drove road (depending on the time of year), mainly sheep and cattle, possibly some horses. Lambing time is around March/April so there will be plenty to see at this time. The woodland sections also have squirrels and rabbits in abundance. If you are lucky you may see a Roe Deer or two.

Starting Point	Kippen Cross
Ending Point	Kippen Cross
Route Type	Linear and Circular
Distance	3.5 Miles (5.6 Km)
Surface	Combination of road, track and field.
Overview	The first of the longer walks, this route loops round from the left fork of the Burnside Road, along to the Boquhan Bridge then along the road to the Dasher Bridge and back to the Burnside Road.

 

 

The Dasher Bridge

From the Cross, head along Burnside Road.

At the fork in the road, take the left side and pass the houses on your right (Glentirran) all the way to where the old mink farm once was. This road will start the circular section in a clockwise direction.

From here, leave the road and join the track that leads to the Boquhan Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, there is a path that runs south along the side of the wood until it ends at the road on the other side of the hill.

Turn right and walk along this road, past Fourmerk Farm and on until the gate on your right (before you reach Auldhall Farm) which leads through the field and down to the Dasher Bridge. Follow this old road over the bridge and up the hill to the Dasher farm.

At the Dasher Farm, follow the road straight on and cross the fields to re-join the road at Burnside. Return to Kippen Cross to complete the walk.

The photograph on the right shows the line of houses that are on the south side of the Burnside Road as seen from down in the valley, looking south.

This old drover road is the basis for many of the walks in the Kippen area. Although this particular walk goes along it as far as the Boquhan bridge, other routes go further (to Burntown) and it is also possible to reach Gargunnock by the remnants of this track.

A Mink Farm was situated at the end of the tarred section of the Burnside Road. Long gone, the site has been re-developed and a house stands there now.

The route from the old Mink Farm is fairly overgrown, but passable - just wear sensible footwear and all will be well. On the other side of the Boquhan Bridge, the path is also rather overgrown, but the road it leads to (on the other side of the hill) is in good condition.

Burnside Road and Glentirran from the Carse

This is the first of the longer routes and takes us to the other side of the hills behind Kippen. This introduces the moor land and the wildlife that flourishes there. Many wooded and forrested areas co-exist on open heath and suit a number of birds and animals. Watch for hares - (in their white winter fur if its late in the year). Deer, both Roe and Red may be spotted along with foxes, badgers, rabbits, weasles, stoats and possibly squirrels. You may be lucky to see a grouse or a ptarmigan - again in winter plumage if thats the time of year. Watch for Buzzards soaring on this side of the hill.

Starting Point	Kippen Cross
Ending Point	Kippen Cross
Route Type	Circular
Distance	7.0 Miles (11.3 Km)
Surface	Road.
Overview	This is the fifth and longest circular route. Leaving the Cross at Kippen, the walk takes the right hand fork at Point-End and continues on good roads to the west and back again by the B822. (this road is surprisingly busy, so please take care)

 

 

View towards The Trossachs

From the Cross, head up the main Street to Point-End (where the road forks). Take the right hand fork, travelling around the route anti-clockwise. Pass the road to the Broich (on your right) and keep straight on.

Near the Claylands Farm, follow the road round and over the bridge then go left at the Claylands road end.

From here on, just follow the road as it twists and turns its way west. Jennywoodston is the last farm before the next straight takes you onto the Fintry-Arnprior road. Turn left when joining this road, heading in the Fintry direction.

Pass Lint Mill, then the Mill Dam, before turning left at the junction onto the B822 heading back to Kippen.

After passing the Kepp Firs to your left, Loch Laggan should be visible beyond the trees. The loch is teeming with trout thanks to the efforts of the local Angling Club.

On the way back to Kippen, the ground to the south (the right hand side nearest the hills) is the eastern end of the Kippen Moor. This is the same moor that Rob Roy MacGregor decended from on his famous cattle raid in the nearby village of Buchlyvie. Unfortunately for all concerned, the locals from Buchlyvie and Kippen thought they were the target - not the herd of cattle being driven through their region. After a bloody fight, Rob Roy and his men made off with the herd, then returned later to empty every byre in Kippen as revenge for his losses and inconvenience.

The farmlands visible in the Carse were non-existent in Rob Roy's time. Instead, the original Flanders Moss was part of a greater bog that stretched all the way to Stirling. This is why the old drove roads run through Kippen - the valley was simply too hazardous to travel through. The remnants of the Moss can be seen from many points along the route.

Wildlife on this walk have elements from woodland, farmland and moorland and will feature the species mentioned in previous route descriptions where appropriate.

View over the Carse of Stirling

Starting Point Kippen Cross Ending Point Spur of Ballochleam Route Type Linear Distance 6.0 Miles (9.6 Km) one way Surface Road, path, track and moor. Overview This is the longest walk of 6 miles one way, so it will be at least 12 if the return journey is along the same route. Similar to the Burnside-Boquhan Bridge walk, instead of turning back to Kippen via the Dasher Farm, the route continues on to Ballochleam, where it heads into the hills to the Spout of Ballochleam.

Head for the Hills!

 

 

Bow's Brig - take a look on your way back.

Starting from the Cross in Kippen, follow Burnside Road (the old drover road) and keep straight on, passing the houses at Glentirran, the Dasher Farm road end, the Boquhan Bridge and finaly arrive at Burntown.

Join the tarred road and walk towards the hills, passing the Myreton on your left. Stay on this road, walking parallel to the hills and passing Fourmerk on the left, then Auldhall on the right, The Garrique on the left and eventually join the track to Ballochleam on the left.

Follow this track past the farm of Ballochleam and head up into the hills, ending up at the Spout of Ballochleam and some really spectacular views of the surrounding lands.

This walk is challenging and should be started early in the day. Be prepared for different walking surfaces as the terrain will change from road to path to track and back again frequently during the walk. This route takes you into very remote areas, in the interests of safety, please stay on the designated route. Ideally, you should be accompanied by at least one other person and someone should have a (fully charged) mobile phone in case of medical emergency.

Once you have reached the end of this walk, return to Ballochleam. From there you have some route choices.

If you have the time, turn left at the foot of the Ballochleam track and head for Bow's Brig. This old bridge disguises its size from the roadway at the top. Walk a little further on and get down to the burn, then look back at the bridge to see just how massive it really is. The photograph was taken from the other side (by walking along the riverbank and passing under the bridge). The figure in blue gives scale to the picture - all that bridge-building effort just to cross a small burn!

Back at Ballochleam road end. You may want to travel back to Kippen exactly the same way you arrived, or you may want to go via the Dasher Bridge, then on to the Dasher Farm and back on to the Burnside Road by crossing the Fields. The path to the Dasher Bridge is on the left, just after Auldhall Farm as you travel back. This choice will certainly shorten the journey and it also adds some new sights and sounds to the route in general.