Walk of the week: Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve

IT WAS my birthday. The other half was working and the elder offspring at a friend’s, so my 18-month-old and I went for a walk.

The snow-covered Trossachs looked inviting but with a toddler, short was necessary, so it was off to Flanders Moss national nature reserve. This is within the Carse of Stirling, so is ideal for little legs because it is as flat as a pancake. And, after last week’s walk in Caithness took the title of longest Walk of the Week ever, this week’s is the shortest.

Overhead there were clear blue skies – looking almost strange after the new year storms had blighted the country.

The website for Flanders Moss describes it as “a vast expanse of all things damp and wonderful”, and that is a spot-on description. Here you will find bog in abundance. In spring and summer, lizards and adders enjoy basking among the heather, while sphagnum moss reigns supreme. This is also a place for bird life, including snipe and stonechats.

In winter, it is no less enticing. On a crisp clear day, this is a place of peace and calm. Yes, it is flat and apparently endless, but the natural world has the ability to make what should be boring into something enchanting. With the little legs in full flow, the chance of admiring anything for too long was slim but we did get plenty of oohs and aahs for … a fallen tree.

This was the best birthday walk I’ve ever had – mainly because of the company but also for the location.

DISTANCE: ¾ mile

HEIGHT CLIMBED: Negligible

TIME 30 minutes to 1 hour

MAP OS Landranger 57

PARKING Follow signs from the B822 between Thornhill and Kippen.

IN SUMMARY Leave the car park by a wooden footbridge next to an information board. At a junction of paths, go straight on to reach an observation tower – very good even if only to admire the stunning views of the Trossachs.

Go left at the junction of paths. There are a number of detours left – these are worth taking for extra information panels and, on one detour, a couple of benches for admiring the view of Ben Ledi. The path turns into a walkway, laid just above the bog, and makes its way to the right. On reaching the junction near the tower, go left to retrace your steps to the car park.

REFRESHMENTS Try the Gargunnock Inn, just down the road, for great food.

WHILE IN THE AREA Stirling is within striking distance, and the Wallace Monument. In the other direction is Aberfoyle, home to the David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre (www.forestry.gov.uk). There are trails and wildlife information as well as a tearoom. Next door is a Go Ape (www.goape.co.uk), with rope bridges, Tarzan swings and a zip slide.