Walk, Ride and Cycle in and aroundDenny

easy to use map and seven suggested locations something for everyone Discover the path networks in and around Denny and Walks Key

Denny originated as a 1 Denny Centre Route A: settlement near a crossing Cherry Tree Walk on the River Carron. In 1601 C 2 Denny Town Centre Route B: the parish of Denny was Denny Town Walk created as previously the 3 Wildwood walks Carron Glen settlement had been part 5 of the parish of . 4 Chacefield Wood Circular E Denny and Dunipace were B 5 Castle and Tappoch very small villages and it Broch M876 was not until the first half Tor Wood 6 Rosebank Community of the 19th century that 6 Woodland industrialisation brought rapid growth. The area had Dunipace 7 Headswood Woodland corn mills and these employed the majority of the scattered population. I D Then Flax became an A important crop and this 3 Points of Interest Key A Spanish Chestnut Tree H G Hospital B Torwood Castle Denny F Denny 7 High School C Tappoch Broch 1 D Milton Row Fireplaces 2 Dunipace E The Blue Pool F Denny Town House 4 G The Station Masters House H Denny Parish Church I Red Hoose Pub triggered the expansion of linen production. In 1825 Denny and Dunipace, which M80 were previously separated by Take a walk along some the River Carron, were linked of the local paths and enjoy by a new bridge. This the great countryside, encouraged families into The most successful iron and paper, the three Finding your way It’s up to you wildlife, history and views the area to work. ventures in this area have pillars that had supported Take a close look at the This leaflet gives details of Denny has to offer and it’s been the paper mills utilising thousands of families were all right on your doorstep. By 1836 Calico printing map for each route. This seven walks, with information the River Carron to create an all gone by 2005 with the should be all you need to find on green transport options, Some sites have options works employed over 1000 industry which remained closure of the final paper for further exploration, or people in the area. Other the start point and get on your path surfaces, gradients, important until very recently. mill, Carrongrove. way. OS Explorer map 349 parking and facilities. Just you could join together successful local industries some of the routes and included mining, textiles, Mills at Carrongrove, The small town centre covers the area. choose a route that suits your interest and ability make a day of it. iron founding and brick Stoneywood, Headswood and is now undergoing Signs making. The arrival of the Vale employed hundreds of regeneration with the and enjoy the paths in and Where else can I visit? Look out for sign around Denny. Caledonian Railway in men and women and made promise of the 1960s town posts and See overleaf for a full list 1859 further improved Denny one of the most centre blocks being interpretation boards There are plenty of interesting and details of key places communication and markets important paper making demolished and a new giving more information things to see and do in and of interest to see and visit for these industries. centres in . Coal, centre being built. along the way. around Denny and Dunipace. while on the routes.

©Crown Copyright and database right 2012. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100023384. For reference purposes only. No further copies may be made. 3 Places of interest to visit

A. Spanish chestnut tree. C. Tappoch Broch Locally known as the Tappoch Broch is one of Spanish Chestnut Tree, this the best preserved lowland tree has been verified as Brochs to be found in “ancient” by the Woodland Scotland. The earliest Trust who note it is in fact Brochs date back to 500- a Sweet Chestnut. Its girth 200BC. Tappoch Broch was is around 7.5m and is excavated in 1864 by thought to be several Colonel Dundas of hundred years old, but the Carronhall and it was true age can’t be known thought that the mound unless the internal yearly might be for burials. rings are counted. It would Instead a stone dwelling have been in the grounds of of Iron Age date was Herbertshire Castle which discovered. The Brochs are was owned by the Forbes formed by two concentric, family until it was destroyed dry stone walls, producing by fire in 1914. It now a hollow-walled tower. stands alone in on the edge Between the walls were of a public park close to a galleries and stairways modern housing estate which led to the upper levels. Within the tower there would have been several wooden floors, providing the main living space with the ground floor Know the code before used as a secure store for you go…. Enjoy Scotland’s cattle or sheep when the outdoors responsibly. broch was under siege. resulted in a general strike. Everyone has the right to be D. Milton Row Fireplaces The employers brought in on most land and inland Dunipace. other workers and housed water providing they act The dark rectangles on the them in lean-to shed-like responsibly. Your access wall are the remains of the dwellings along the wall rights and responsibilities fireplaces of the lean-to down one side of Milton are fully explained in the houses built for in-coming Row. These workers were Scottish Outdoor Access workers in the 1830’s. The called “Nobs” as a term of Code. fireplaces are a reminder derision and were under Whether you’re in the B. Torwood Castle. of a turbulent time in 1832, threat from the strikers. The Foresters of Garden when an attempt to reduce outdoors or managing the The Black Watch were outdoors, the key things are were the keepers of the calico print workers wages called in to keep the peace. valuable and strategically to: important Royal Forest of take responsibility for Torwood from the 1400s. with the date 1566 on it. would have had 3 floors your own actions; Torwood Castle is the last The now ruined Castle and still has a row of respect the interests of surviving symbol of Forester exchanged hands many large cellars which had other people; and power. It was built in 1566 times until it was finally been completely buried care for the environment. for Sir Alexander Forester sold in 1957 to Gordon and had to be dug out. Mr and its size and construction Millar, a chartered Millar died in 1998 before Find out more by visiting confirm the status of its lord accountant from . completing his inspired www.outdooraccess- and the dangerous times in He spent the next 37 years renovation project and the scotland.com or contact your which he and his family of his life renovating the Castle is now in the care local Scottish Natural lived. A piece of masonry ruin with the help of of the charity Torwood Heritage office. was discovered near the site volunteers. The castle Castle Trust. 4 5 Places of interest to visit

H. Denny Parish Church. Is sited at Denny Cross, although not the original building, there has been a church on the site for over 400 years. Some old graves and gravestones are visible just behind the perimeter wall.

E. The Blue Pool. This is a brick lined tank that is probably Victorian I. The Red Hoose Pub in origin. It nestles under the bows of plantation Heading north out of Denny woodland near Torwood into Dunipace, you can find Castle. The pool is The Red Hoose Pub, turquoise in colour and formerly known as the perfectly clear. Its former Lairox Inn (Lair of the Ox) Visible on the gable wall is use is the topic of much G. The Station Masters a functioning sundial. The debate but it has been House. suggested that the blue stone dates from the early This was the main building 18th century. It’s believed colour comes from at Denny Railway station. the high levels of there has been an Inn on The railway link to Denny this site since William Aluminium Sulphate found closed in 1967. in the fireclay which is Wallace’s ti me. common in this area, but what the tank was used for in the past no-one knows.

F. Denny Town House This building was once the chamber and offices of the Denny and Dunipace . It now houses one of the departments of Falkirk Council. The stained-glass window in the southwest wall includes a version of the old Burgh Seal. View of Carron Valley with Meikle Bin in the distance 6 7 1 & 2. Denny Town Centre Green River Carron Route A: Cherry tree walk Bridge Route B: Denny Town walk

Denny Bridge

Winchester Avenue Dales Bridge NHS/Council Indust. Est. Offices Town Centre

Denny Primary School Denny Cross

Denny Town House

Denny High School

Route A Access Information Bus: For further Key information on bus times, numbers, routes, etc, call Route A: pedestrian crossing. Route B Starting point Traveline on 08712002233 Access Information Cherry Tree Walk Cross over the road and Route A or visit traveline.org.uk Community Woodland in Finding your way take the path to the left Dunipace.) See walk 6. 1 Start your walk at Denny of Machan Engineering Bus, Parking, Facilities Route B Parking: Davies Row Works. This is a & Path Information: (Behind old Town centre), Town House on Glasgow 2 Once you reach Road. Beside the Town signposted route to As opposite Street, facing The Royal Parking Town House Street Winchester Avenue. (Next to sports centre), House is a Cherry tree Distance: 1.5 miles Oak, turn left. You will come to the junction on Bridge Herbertshire Street. lined avenue which is at 4 Follow this long straight (2.5km) (Behind Co-op) its best mid to late April the main road, turn left path that will eventually again and follow the or in autumn. take you out at the Green Distance: 1.5 miles (2.5km) Route B: footpath back into 2 Once through the Cherry Bridge over the River Denny Town Walk Denny Town Centre. Alternative paths available tree walk take the path Carron. From here you Finding your way to the left of the sports can take a right hand 3 Follow Stirling Street Path information: surfaced Alternatively you can centre keeping the turn on the path before pavements through the pavements. A flat easy the bridge and follow turn left at the Green shopping precinct and Nursery school also Bridge and head upstream walk through the quieter on your left. Follow the the riverside path along over the road at Denny parts of the town. towards Stirling Street in path until you come to Winchester Avenue Cross with Denny Parish coming out again at Dunipace. The footpath Church dominating the Facilities: Toilets, shops, a junction. exits across from The cafes and parking available Broad Street where you cross on your right. 3 Take a left turn and Royal Oak pub. (Crossing in Denny Town Centre. entered and trace your head towards Broad steps back to Denny Green Bridge takes you on Keep to the pavement Street and the new Town House. a long narrow path that and return to Denny exits at Rosebank Town House. 8 9 3. Wildwood walks Carron Glen

that leads under the motorway to the countryside beyond. 2 Leave the noise of the traffic behind and follow the riverside path along the fence line upstream towards Carron Glen woodland. 3 The woodland path leads uphill, away from the river, to a kissing gate. This is the halfway point which is the beginning of Carron Dunipace Glen Nature Reserve, Strathcarron Hospice S.S.S.I. Key 4 There is an interpretation Starting point Stoneywood board with a map of Carron Glen nature Route A Access Information reserve. From here you can continue up towards Route B Grade: A medium walk. Fankerton and further into the nature reserve. Parking Distance: 2.5 miles (4.2km). 5 Alternatively to return to Information Dunipace, walk along a Panel Terrain: Countryside Two things make these path through woodland, paths are not surfaced - walks special: the river and Bridge the woodland. After an through another kissing (just rough ground) so gate out onto a quiet boots are advised. A industrial past the River country road. Turn right, few stiles to cross and Carron is becoming cleaner again. Trout and Salmon, downhill, back towards some woodland steps. Dunipace over the Return by quiet country can be seen jumping in its motorway. road. fast flowing waters. Carron Glen is a very old wood and 6 Once over the motorway Gradient: Some steeper is home to a great variety of turn right into Chestnut sections up and down wild plants and animals. Crescent then right again to the River Carron. Scottish Wildlife Trust now into Herbertshire Castle manage the wood as their Park to retrace your steps General: Parking in 100th nature reserve! Herbertshire Castle to the start. Park. Options to extend Route A: From Dunipace walk and explore Finding your way Carron Glen further (see point three). 1 Start from Herbertshire Castle Park in Dunipace Facilities: Toilets, head upstream on the shops, cafes and north side of the River Route B: From Fankerton the Glen and over the and peters out. Return parking available in Carron. After passing the Finding your way new footbridge. There is a back to Fankerton by the Denny Town Centre. footbridge (do not cross small circular path on the same route. it), walk uphill for 100 Alternatively you could start flat area next to the river Carron Glen is owned metres and turn left off and managed by your walk at Fankerton. beside the bridge. If you are Note. Carron Glen is a Site the tarmac path (just There is a small car park feeling more adventurous of Special Scientific Interest Scottish Wildlife Trust before reaching the Tel 0131 312 7765. that is able to hold four you could follow the rough (SSSI). Please respect this houses of Chestnut cars. From here you could path up into the glen until habitat and do not damage Crescent) onto a path take a short stroll down into the path becomes muddy or pick wildflowers. 10 11 4. Chacefield Wood circular

into a small wood. Follow this path and cross over a small wooden bridge continue until you come Denny High to a self closing gate onto Sports Centre School a farm track. 3 Take a right at the gate and follow the farm track for 100m until a track appears ahead uphill on your left. Take this track and follow it as it heads up towards the woodland on the brow of the farmland. There are various self closing gates Chacefield Wood on this track and the path may be muddy and wet in places. It is also fairly steep near the woodlands. 4 Once you reach the end of this track you have reached Chacefield wood. There is a bench at the Key Access Information entrance to the woodland Starting point where you can recover Bus: For further from your uphill walk and Route information on bus times, enjoy the view over Denny. numbers, routes, etc call Follow the main rough Parking Traveline on stone surfaced path 08712002233 or visit around and through the Bench www.traveline.org.uk woodland. (You can Parking: Car park at branch off either left or Denny Sports Centre. right onto smaller paths Finding your way. which loop around back Distance: 3.5miles onto the central path). (5.6km). Start: Denny Sports Centre. There are some grassy Path information: Farm 1 Start from the car park paths which you can also tracks, may be muddy in at Denny Sports Centre explore but these are not places, surfaced path on Town House Street. signposted. Take the path to the right through woodland. 5 Once at the end of the Tarmac. of the Sports centre and follow this all the way central path you are Facilities: Parking and towards the grass playing nearing the motorway. toilets at Denny sports fields behind the school. Take the path down the centre. Please remember Carry on straight past field edge with the 6 Follow the farm road Please be sure to close path and cross over you are walking through the new school, keeping motorway on your right. to your left. This track the gate after yourself. the wooden bridge working farmland and the two playing fields Once at the bottom of takes you through back to Herbertshire forestry. on your right. this path follow the Cuthelton Farm. Take 7 100 metres past the playing fields. From here disused railway path past care when entering the gate you will see a self follow the surfaced path Chacefield Wood is 2. Near the end of the Leslie Park Farm until you owned and managed by farm and be aware that it closing wooden gate on behind Denny High playing fields there is a come to the main farm is a working farm. There your right which is School back to Denny Callendar Estate. signposted path that road leading to Cuthelton Tel: 01324 624236 is a field gate in the farm signposted Herbertshire Sports Centre. branches off to the right Farm and Mydub Farm. which you pass through. playing fields. Take this 12 13 5. Torwood Castle and Tappoch Broch

Key Starting points Route A Route B Tappoch Bench Broch Bridge

Torwood Castle

Denovan House

Access Information Route A: Finding your way woodland to Tappoch 1 From Glen Road in Broch. This path is not Bus: For further Torwood follow the Right signposted but takes a information on bus of Way sign up a rough semi circular route through times, numbers, track called Castle Loan the pine woodland and routes, etc call for around 600m until you exits back at the beginning Traveline on come to Torwood Castle. of Castle Loan. 08712002233 or visit www.traveline.org.uk 2 Before the entrance to 5 Follow the narrow track the castle grounds, turn through the woodlands. Parking: Available on right and make your way The lower reaches may be Glen Road. See map. through the wooden very muddy but once the kissing gate. path climbs into the pine Distance: 2.5 miles woodland it is usually dry. 6 Once you have explored (3km) Route B track until you come to 3 Follow this track until you On reaching the highest the stone walls and a metal gate on your left. point of the woodland keep This route is around 4 Path information: see a metal self closing remaining staircase of miles (6.4km) from Glen Follow the path south until your eyes open for a stone Rough farm track and gate leading to a narrow the Broch head downhill Road, Torwood to Larbert. you come to another gate. natural woodland path along the field edge structure on your left hand underneath the canopy From here the route is tracks that may be on your left. This path side. In summer the Broch of conifers until you A longer route back to well signposted. Turn left muddy in places. leads down to Denovan is difficult to see as it is reach a small wooden Larbert is to follow the and follow the track back Road and into Denny. usually covered in Bracken. boardwalk bridge that narrow country path that towards Larbert. The track Facilities: Toilets, It is much easier to spot crosses a ditch. Once leads down the side of exits behind Forth Valley shops, cafes and 4 Almost directly opposite when the vegetation has across the boardwalk, Pamphellgoat wood. You Royal Hospital on Old parking available in the metal self closing gate died back. If you start you will be on Castle can access this path by Denny Road near North Denny Town Centre. is a narrow woodland path heading downhill again Loan. Only a few turning right at the castle. Broomage Roundabout. that leads up a gentle without seeing the Broch hundred yards from your Go through the wooden slope through Pine then you have gone too far. start point on Glen Road. kissing gate and follow the 14 15 6. Rosebank Community Woodland

This is lovely young woodland ideal for an evening stroll or walking your dog or just a quiet wander during the day. The community woodland has short circular walks and good path surfaces. Look out for Cherry tree blossom in the spring and later on cherries themselves. On dusky evenings there are often bats swooping around the mature trees near the Avon Burn that borders the west side of the woodland, and listen for the Tawny Owls calling to each other. Finding your way 1 There are several entrances to Rosebank Community Woodland. These can be found at Meadow Court, Rulley View and Stirling Street.

Key Starting points Main path Access Information Bus: For further information on bus times, numbers, routes, etc call Traveline on 08712002233 or visit www.traveline.org.uk Parking: No designated parking Distance: 0.5miles (1km) Path information: Mostly surfaced with areas through woodland that can get muddy. Facilities: Toilets, shops, cafes and parking available in Denny Town Centre. Autumn Birch Woodland 16 17 7. Headswood Woodland Nature Notes

On the site of an old quarry, Headswood Woodland is a small, Headswood mainly Birch, wood with Industrial Estate the River Carron running alongside its North edge. River Carron The woodland near the river boasts carpets of wild garlic, which fill the air with their heavy scent in springtime. Look out for the tiny but powerful wild strawberries which thrive in this woodland. This is a flat easy walk with rough woodland paths which sometimes may be muddy. From Finding your way Denny 1 Start at entrance to Headswood opposite Denny Cemetery on the A883. 2 There is no official Key parking, although informal parking may be Starting points available immediately on your right as you exit Main path the A883 just past the entrance. 3 Walk down the main Access Information road towards the mill taking care as heavy Bus: vehicles use this road. For further information 4 At the bottom, before on bus times, numbers, the bridge over the River routes, etc call Carron, there is the Traveline on entrance to Headswood 08712002233 or visit Woodland on your right. www.traveline.org.uk 5 Follow the path as it Distance: Circular route meanders close to the of 0.5miles (1km) riverbank then turns off Path information: onto a quiet woodland This is a flat, circular path. woodland path. Not 6 The path ends with a surfaced. kissing gate that leads to the far end of the Facilities: Toilets, old road to retrace your shops, cafes and steps. parking available in Denny Town Centre.

18 Walk, Ride and Cycle in and around Denny

Getting There Access the Green Travel map at www.falkirk.gov.uk or call 01324 504950. By Foot: If you live nearby. By Cycle: Sustrans National Cycle Network routes 76 and 754 pass nearby. Cycle route information available from www.sustrans.org.uk or call 0845 113 0065. By Rail: There are no direct rail links to Denny. Nearest train stations are at , Larbert, Falkirk or Stirling. By Bus: For further information on bus times, numbers, routes etc, call the Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.traveline.org.uk. By Car: Denny is in the heart of Central Scotland, to the West of Falkirk and south of Stirling. It is well connected to both local A roads and the nearby motorways M80 and M876. 2012 Suggested Walks

Walking is easy. You don’t need any special equipment Council. and whatever your age or level of fitness your health will benefit from this natural, gentle form of exercise. Falkirk Services,

Many of the paths in this guide can be linked up to give a range of circular walks of varying length. It’s simply up to you to choose the routes that suit you. There is as much variety of surface conditions underfoot as there is scenery. Neighbourhood and So get your boots on and explore Denny’s countryside at your own pace. Corporate Unit, Thank you to all organisations, landowners and local communities for their cooperation and support. Council This booklet has been produced by Falkirk Council. Falkirk For further information please contact Falkirk Council’s Communications by by

A Outdoor Access Team. Tel. 01324 504950. NE FOR A' Produced Designed