Walk of the week: Calander Craig and Bracklinn Falls

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 16:18

EVEN before we pull our boots on in the car park, the view to our destination is impressive, through woodland clinging to crags. The steep climb is rewarded with a panorama that includes the Trossachs and Ochil Hills. A spectacular waterfall is then visited before a return through woodland.

Wear those boots, as the walk is muddy and rocky in places. Also, wrap up, as you are exposed to the elements on this walk, and care should be taken in places as it can be slippery underfoot, particularly near Bracklinn Falls, where there are potentially fatal drops.

Once you have left the town of Callander behind, the way is strenuous, although the woodland is pleasant and you do have the chance of spotting red squirrels.

After reaching an area predominantly covered by birch, the gradient eases and there is only one large rock to clamber over (not difficult) before you reach Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Cairn, at the top of the hill. This was originally erected by Malcolm Ferguson of Callander in 1897, but was rebuilt 100 years later.

Although you are only 1,125 feet up, the views are great. The lowlands to the south give way to the Ochils in the east. Ben Vorlich and Ben Ledi rise up to the north, with the Trossachs and Loch Venachar lying to the west.

You can continue along the hill's ridge to drop down to a road, where you go left to return to Callander. The route described, however, reduces the amount of Tarmac, taking advantage of a path waymarked by the Forestry Commission. Descending this way also gives a close-up view of the crags.

It is well worth making a detour to Bracklinn Falls, especially at this time of year, when the amount of water running off the hills means they are often in full spate. On reaching the falls, it is best to go to the right and carefully make your way downstream until a narrow path bends to the left. From here you can look up Keltie Burn and to a fantastic view of the crashing waters – again, be careful of the drops.

The final section takes you through mixed woodland, back round below the crags to the end of a great, short winter walk.

DISTANCE 4 miles

HEIGHT CLIMBED 1,000ft

TIME 2–3 hours

MAP OS Landranger 57

PARKING Go to the west end of Callander's main street and turn right after the turn-off for the A81 to reach Station Road car park (behind the Dreadnought Hotel).

IN SUMMARY Go to the far left of the car park and emerge at a residential road, where you go left. After about 40 yards, go right, along a path, to reach woodland, where you follow a path going up to the left. This zig-zags steeply to a footbridge, which you need to cross.

The path on the other side leads up through thinning woodland. Drop down to another footbridge, with a red marker post next to it, and cross it. The cairn at the summit is a few yards further on, past a metal kissing gate.

Return to the red marker post by the bridge and go left, down stone steps. The path levels out a little and leads into woodland. After a footbridge, look for a red marker post near a sharp right-hand bend. Go left here, along a narrow path to a road, where you go left.

Head up the road for about 100 yards and, at a sign for Bracklin (sic) Falls, go right, along a path. Ignore tracks going right, into forestry, and continue to a fork, where you take the path going right. Drop down steps to reach Keltie Burn and the falls. Return to the road and go left, downhill. Go past the path used to descend from Callander Craig, and about 300 yards later go right, into a car park. At the far end of this there is a green metal barrier with a track beyond. Take a path going off to the left, into trees.

Ignore paths going left until you reach a better-made one, then go left and walk past a red marker post. The path drops down and goes round to the left to reach the path taken at the start. Go left here to return to the residential road followed earlier, and go left again to retrace your steps to the car park.

REFRESHMENTS There is a good range of options in Callander. For that little bit extra, try the Roman Camp country house hotel, at the east end of the main street.

WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA Head to the medieval Doune Castle (01786 841742, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), eight miles down the A84. Learn all about its fascinating history – not least that Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed there (note that the castle is closed on Thursdays and Fridays during winter).

• This article first appeared in the 29 November edition of Scotland on Sunday