Braes Area Path Network

Discover the paths in and around The Braesarea of Falkirk Includes easy to use map and eleven suggested locations something for everyone Discover the paths in and around The Braes area of Falkirk A brief history Falkir Path networks key and page 1 Westquarter Glen 5 The John circular Muir Way 2 Polmont Wood 8 NCN 754 Walkabout Union Canal 3 Brightons Wander 10 4 Maddiston to Rumford Loop 12 Shieldhill 5 Standburn Meander 14 6 Whitecross to 16 Muiravonside Loop 7 Big Limerigg Loop 18 8 Wallacestone Wander 20 Califor B803 9 Avonbridge Walk 22 10 Shieldhill to California 24 B810 and back again B 11 Slamannan Walkabout 26 River Avon r Slamannan e w o T k c B8022 o l C Binniehill n a n B825 n B8021 a m a l Limerigg S This leaflet covers walks in and around the villages of Westquarter, Polmont, Brightons, Maddiston, Standburn, Wallacestone, Whitecross, Limerigg, Avonbridge, Slamannan and Shieldhill to California. The villages are mainly of mining origin providing employment for local people especially during the 18th-19th centuries when demand for coal was at its highest. Today none of the pits are in use but evidence of the industrial past can still be seen. 2 rk Icon Key John Muir Way National Cycle M9 Network (NCN) Redding River Avon Polmont A801 Brightons Whitecross Linlithgow Wallacestone Maddiston nia B825 Union Canal Standburn 8028 B825 River Avon Avonbridge A801 Small scale coal mining has existed in Scotland since the 12th Century. Between the 17th & 19th Century the demand for coal increased greatly. Events such as the opening of Carron Iron Foundry in 1759, the invention of the steam engine by James Watt and the development of the railway network all contributed greatly to this increased demand. Slamannan Parish Church 3 Discover the paths in and around The Braes area of Falkirk Up until the late 1700’s all colliers working in the mines were called Serfs which meant they were bound to the coal mine owner. Once bound to a pit they and their family could not leave to look elsewhere for work. If anyone dared to leave they were returned and severely punished. The children born to a collier were bought in effect by the coal mine owner and they too were bound to the pit and owner. As the demand for coal l increased, so did the a n demand for a workforce. a C People did not want a life of n serfdom so with reluctance o i the owners granted workers n their freedom. U This happened around the Finding your way There are plenty of same time as the 500th interesting things to see anniversary of the Battle of Take a close look at the and do in the The Braes Falkirk 1292 led by William map for each route. This area. Choose a walk and Wallace and the colliers should be all you need to discover the countryside, adopted his name to create find the start point and get wildlife, fantastic views and the Sir William Wallace you on your way. OS the wealth of history Grand Lodge of Scotland Explorer map 349 covers waiting to be discovered on Free Colliers. the area. your doorstep. To mark this historic battle the Free Colliers began an Signs Which site should I visit? annual march between Look out for sign posts and Simply read through the the coal mining villages. interpretation boards giving suggested routes and This tradition still carries more information along the choose one that suits your on today on the first way. interests, needs and Saturday in August, starting abilities. Many walks have at the Reddingmuirhead It’s up to you! options for further Lodgerooms at 12 noon. This leaflet gives you exploration and the paths Colliers march linking details of eleven walks with lead on to other areas in pinkies visiting Redding, information on green The Braes. Westquarter, Laurieston & transport options, parking Reddingmuirhead a total and facilities. Just choose a Where else can I visit? of 10 miles. This march route that suits your See the full list and details demonstrates their interest and ability to enjoy of key places of interest to forefathers rights as free the paths in and around The see and visit while on the men. At the end of the day Braes area. routes. they walk to the monument in Wallacestone known as “Wallace’s Stone”. 4 1. A wee shortie: Points of interest Westquarter Glen circular A Well B Dovecot Langton Road C Redding pit disaster memorial Pa Ramsay rk D Cre Westquarter Drive scent Community Cafe Westquarter Burn LAURIESTON WESTQUARTER n e l Westquarter D G School r e t e r nu a ve Livingstone u A er q rt Drive t ua s tq e s We W Waterfalls A B Garden Do vec Terrace ot R oad Icon Key Starting point Main path Other paths R ed Dog Fouling Bin din g Ro Layby ad C The village of was built in the early Westquarter 17th century. This was The lands of Westquarter subsequently demolished in belonged to the Livingstone 1884 and all that remains family from the mid 16th today is the lectern style dovecot with a date 1647 t century until the early 20th o and the initials of Sir c century. e William Livingstone and his v o wife Dame Henemore D They were related to the r Livingstone family of Livingstone. The style of e t the dovecot suggests it was r Callendar estate. a built in the 18th century and u q constructed of rubble with t The first known house to be s walls 3 feet thick. e associated with the estate W 5 Access Information Bus: Number 1 & F16 bus to Westquarter for bus timetable information contact. Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.travelinescotland.com Train: Polmont Station 2.1km following the canal towpath and downhill walk c i l on the Redding Road. r a G Parking: A small layby on d l the main Redding Road. i W Cycle: No NCN network nearby A new baronial mansion Distance: was built by Thomas F 1.12 miles (1.8km) Livingstone and served until the 1930’s. It was sold to Path information: James Nimmo a coal This route follows the merchant. He and his family contours of the glen which settled in the area and is easily accessible using subsequently leased and surfaced paths. However worked the mines in the there are some small local area. This included sections where the inclines Redding Pit no;23 in which are very steep. There is no 40 men lost their lives in formal seating except at September 1923. This was the picnic area next to the seen as one of the worst waterfall coal mining tragedies in Britain. Facilities: There are no public glen. You should hear the In 1934 the estate was facilities however there is roar coming from the sold and bought by Stirling the Westquarter water fall depending on County Council. Plans were Community Wing attached the time for year. The set to build a model village to Westquarter Primary picnic tables you see in containing 450 houses School where they sell hot front of you are the only shops and school for the drinks and food with seating in the glen. Head people of Westquarter and welfare facilities open daily towards the waterfall on Standburn who were living until 1.00pm. your left and cross the in squalid conditions. bridge, taking in the ambiance of the waterfall. Westquarter Glen is a schools also use the site as Once over the bridge turn broadleaved woodland with an outdoor classroom. right and follow the steps an extensive path network onto the lower path. Local community groups have been working to Finding your way 2 Continue along the improve this important surfaced path as it starts local space by eradicating 1 Start at the car park to climb up into the glen laurels and other non native on Redding Road. where the waterfall again species; this will be evident From the layby enter dominates. Once up and as you walk around the site. Westquarter Glen through around the corner, the Opening up the glen will the opening in the wall, noise of the waterfall allow re growth of native walking down the tarmac fades, and you may start flowers and shrubs. Local ramp access into the to hear more of the bird 6 l l a f r e t a W n e l G r e t r a u q t s e W 3 Take the steps leading before the ramp access you back uphill and turn to the car park and r e right at the top. You are follow the main drive of t s at a much higher point in the original estate back a s i the glen and the noise of out of Westquarter Glen. d t the waterfall will return. At this point you will i l p pass the original gate a i g r 4 Keep following this path posts. n i o d around the glen and at m d e e this point you will see the 6 Once past the gate R m old well (uncovered posts you are now on during rhododenderon Garden Terrace. Follow calls in the glen. removal) down near the the road round to the Continue to follow the water’s edge. Cross over left then cross over onto burn until you come to a the small metal bridge Westquarter Avenue.

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