Munro-ing in the North wasn't really safe yesterday, as the forecast was was extremely high winds. Plan B was to head into the Ochils for a dander around some of these less famous hills. I used to travel to Tillicoultry regularly for church stuff, and so had looked up at the great 'wall' of the Ochil ridge looming above the village along to Dollar for many years - but never been up it. My boss and I were working in Stirling a few weeks ago, and as we came out of the back of Bridge of Allan looked along the line of the Ochils and speculated that it might make a 'good walk one day'. That day arrived sooner than we expected!
Most people go to Tillicoultry for furniture shopping or to the factory outlet village; however they are missing a treat! Almost opposite the turning into those places, there is a small brown tourist sign for "Mill Glen" which points up a short road with on-street parking, by a briskly flowing river. Surprisingly, the muddy track at the end of this road climbs steeply into a stunning narrow glen, full of cliffs, trees and waterfalls which in other countries would be called a 'canyon'. The river powers down this narrow slot in the landscape, while walkers access is eased by a remarkable wooden walkway, and a series of bridges.
The path descends rapidly down to the waterside and the last of these bridges, at the point at which the glen bifurcates like a large 'Y', where two rivers meet and flow as one down towards the Forth. The 'nose' between these two glens provides a steep, but wonderful climb out of the glen and up towards the open country above. It's a good, bracing climb, but as these are small hills, doesn't go on too long!
A path leads all the way up this ridge to the first summit, a tremendous view-point called "The Law", at 638m. The path from there to Ben Cleuch itself is obvious and gains little additional height up to the cairn at 721m, classifying the hill as a 'Graham'.
Our initial plan had been to continue westwards over Ben Ever and back to Tillicoultry from its southern flanks. However, with the weather lifting and the sun making an appearance we turned Eastwards, and strolled over Andrew Ganne Hill (whoever he was!), and then over to "The King's Seat", another marvellous view point. As this hill is out towards the Eastern end of the Ochil's, it was a nice surprise to be able to see round to Loch Leven and The Lomond Hills, as well as the expected Forth panorama.
An unnamed ridge runs from here, back to the head of Mill Glen, making a delightful circuit for the day. The Ochils are not the highest or most dramatic of Scotland's hills. They are not that popular either, we had most of these to ourselves for most of the day. There are paths, but they are not massively eroded by the tread of millions of boots. These hills are though, really beautiful, gentle and rather charming. I will be back!
(pictures from Andy, whose phone has a much better camera than mine!)
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