Cleuch

The Callendar Estate in Falkirk has produced a number of walking trails in the area as well as managing the extensive grounds of Callendar Park and Callendar Wood not far from the town centre. I came across one of them, the Lionthorn Community Woodland Trail a few days ago and, while I was there, discovered that another trail, The Industrial Heritage Trail, started and ended at the car park. So that was my quest for Saturday.

In fact, much of the industry is long gone, although part of the route does give good views over towards the Grangemouth Refinery and Petrochemical plants. However, it's a pleasant 4.5km circular walk up through Kilbean Wood and Easter Strip before joining the route of the former mineral railway (see extra) that served the local mines, first as a horse-drawn track and later by a mechanised railway.

The railway path passes through the Cleuch Plantation (main photo) before the trail goes its own way to pass the Milk Barn at Glen Farm and then join the John Muir Way back to near the car park. The weather was a bit brisk to have one of the delicious Milk Barn ice creams or smoothies, but I did break my journey to enjoy a take-away coffee.

Cleuch is a Scots word meaning a steep valley or ravine. Ideal for preserving a railway line that can't be farmed over when it is no longer required.