Carron
Valley
Trails
Loch Shore Trail
Meikle Bin Trail
The trail begins with a waymarked woodland walk that
borders a children’s activity area. Here young visitors can
get hands-on with the sights, scents and sensational variety
of life in a forest.
For those with more time, this trail offers a steep but well
signposted walk to the summit of Meikle Bin (570m/1886ft).
Along the shore, there is a beautiful picnic site where you
can enjoy spectacular views across the open water and get
close to the abundant wildlife from the purpose-built willow
screens.
A short section of boardwalk at the start. Combines
wide, flat paths and stretches of forest road. There are
short sections of trail that are moderately steep.
2¾ miles / 4.4 km
Allow 1½ hours
dD
Tuf te
uck
Meikle Bin is a rewarding walk; delivering the most
prominent vantage point in the Campsies. From the summit
(marked with a trig point) it is possible to see Scotland from
coast to coast: from the Bass Rock and the lowlands of the
Forth Valley in the east, to the peaks of Ben Ledi and Ben
Lomond in the west.
It is waymarked from the Todholes car park, but once
the trail leaves the forest for the open hill it’s no longer
waymarked. Initial stretches of gravel forest road lead to
a grassy path with steep sections. Can be muddy.
3¼ miles / 5 km (one way)
Allow 3 hours
Taking care when out and about
Please remember that the weather can change quickly. Even
in summer conditions on the tops of the hills are often much
colder and windier than at low levels, despite clear skies
Trail grades
Forestry Commission Scotland trails are graded according to the degree
of difficulty, gradients and type of conditions visitors can expect.
Easy
Sensible
footwear
Moderate
Waterproof
footwear
Strenuous
Hillwalking
boots
Easy
Muscle
loosener
Moderate
Muscle
stretcher
Strenuous
Muscle
builder
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For information on public transport services contact:
Traveline Scotland, 0870 6082608 or
www.travelinescotland.com
The Diversity Team
Tel: 0131 6575
E-mail: [email protected]
If you need this publication in an
alternative format, for example, in
large print or in another language,
please contact:
For more information about
forests in the area look out
for: The forests of Central
Scotland. For more trails
in the area look out for the
forest walks of Blairadam.
and
Discover
Enjoy
Blairadam
Explore The Forest Walks of
Lowlands
& Fife
L o w l a n d s a n d Lowlands
Fife
& Fife
Enjoyed
Carron Valley?
Look out for
these other
Forestry
Commission
Scotland
leaflets and
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further...
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Contact
Forestry Commission Scotland
Scottish Lowlands Forest District
Five Sisters House, Five Sisters Business Park
West Calder EH55 8PN
Tel: 01555 660190
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland
Carron Valley Carron Valley
Welcome to
Front cover
Lowlands
& Fife
Lowlands
& Fife
Things to do nearby
Birdlife
Rich wildlife
The peaceful Carron reservoir offers
a sanctuary for birdlife and a willow
screen on the loch shore offers a great spot to try
your hand at wildlife photography all year round.
Whichever trail you set out to explore, there
is an abundance of wildlife here in Carron
Valley: look out for red deer, red squirrel and
even the elusive pine marten.
In spring, crested grebe hold elaborate courtship
displays, in which they rise out of the water and
shake their heads. Very young grebes can often
be seen hitching a ride on their parents’ back!
Once almost extinct, pine marten, or ‘mertrick’
in Old Scots, have recovered in numbers in
recent years. Carron Valley is now home to this
species, as its range continues to grow.
In the summer, you may see osprey as they hunt
for fish. Seen in flight they have white or slightly
mottled underparts and the adult’s wingspan
can be up to 180cm.
Red squirrels are another species under
threat; this time from the encroachment of
grey squirrels. Scotland is now home to more
than three-quarters of the UK’s remaining red
squirrel population, around 120,000. Here at
Carron Valley, you might see one at any time of
year, as they don’t hibernate!
In autumn look out for goldeneye. Only
the male sports the tell-tale yellow eye.
All year round Watch out for the tufted
duck, and towards dusk, listen out too
for our nocturnal tawny owls
and barn owls!
You’re not going nuts…
Don’t just look for red squirrels in the trees…did you know that
they can swim? (And they are either left or right pawed!)
Extend your stay and get to know more about
Scotland’s historic story here in Carron Valley.
Duncarron Medieval Village
Ultimately promising a full-scale replica of a medieval
fortified village, Duncarron is currently under construction
by volunteers of Clanranald Trust. The site, close to the main
car park, hosts open days several times each year. Look out
for news of the next event at www.duncarron.com
Sir John de Graham’s Castle
Sir John de Graham was a loyal supporter and friend of
William Wallace. He died in 1298, fighting alongside Wallace
at the Battle of Falkirk. Local legend has it that Wallace may
have come to Sir John’s castle following this defeat.
Sir John de Graham’s Castle is a fine
example of a medieval earthwork with
an unusual square motte (moat). To visit
the site, turn north onto the singletrack
road at the end of the reservoir, just
before Todholes car park if approaching
from the east. After about a quarter of
a mile, the entrance to the site is the
first turning on the right.
Trout fishing
You can fly fish
for wild brown
trout and stocked
rainbow trout
on the reservoir,
which runs
approximately
four miles in
length and was
completed in
1939. Permits are
available from;
Carron Valley
Fishery Tel:
01324 823698
Mountain biking
All four of our exhilarating purpose-built mountain bike trails are
profiled in more detail in our dedicated Mountain Biking leaflet.