Todholes to Carron Bridge Walk

Route of Todholes to Carron Bridge Walk
Summary

Distance : 8 miles / 13 Km.
Height Climbed : 1200 Ft / 365M - moderately strenuous.
Terrain : Mainly reasonable track but wet and boggy in places.
Time : At least 4 hours and will require more than one car or a club bus.
Clothing : Full hill-walking gear.
Social stops : Stirling motorway services at junction of M80 / M9 (NB very expensive)
and the good hotel at Carron Bridge itself.

Description

This is a pleasant walk in the vicinity of the Carron Valley reservoir north of the Campsie Fells in Central Scotland. It also takes in the summit of Meikle Bin ("Big Hill") on the Campsies themselevs. The following notes are for general guidance purposes only - if you intend doing this walk it should be studied closely on Ordnance Survey Landranger map no. 57 beforehand.

The walk starts at Todholes Farm at the north-western corner of the reservoir where there is space to park several cars on the southern edge of the B818 road. Leave the road behind you and follow the sign-posted forestry track towards Meikle Bin. Climb up and out of the forest on this track until you come to a well defined path running up steeply to the left. Follow this path up to the summit of Meikle Bin (1870 Ft / 570M) where, on a clear day, there are fabulous views over the Central Lowlands from the Clyde estuary (Ailsa Craig, Arran etc.) as far as the Forth bridges and beyond.

Return down the same path and track but bear right onto another forestry track when close to the reservoir. Follow this track along the edge of the reservoir (broadly speaking) until you reach the forestry commission picnic site and car park just past the eastern extremity of the reservoir. There are toilets situated at this car park or at the hotel in Carron Bridge slightly further down the valley.