WALKS

Alva Glen is the route of the River Alva. The steep descent and rushing water inspired early industrialists to harness the water in a couple of dams and run it through huge cast-iron pipes downhill to power a series of watermills and textile factories. One of the largest of these is still prominent in the town, having been converted into flats.

The sun was shining, the sky was clear, so we put on our walking boots and took a stroll up to the nearby village of Drymen. Appletree Cottage is situated on a quiet back road, single track for most of it and very little traffic.

A lovely moderate winter walk up the famous Whangie, between Milngavie and Drymen

Some areas of Scotland are renowned for magnificent autumnal colours, and nowhere more so than in the Trossachs. The weather this year has produced some spectacular golds, oranges, and browns in the foliage of this well-wooded area.

Earlier in the year, we took a trip to explore the Bracklinn Falls near Callander, about a 35-minute drive from Appletree Cottage. We had heard that the falls could be quite spectacular when the river was in spate. And we were not disappointed. Impressive boulders and rocks surround the site, bearing testimony to the force of the water over thousands of years. Slightly further downstream, we come to the Bracklinn Bridge. The current one is at least the fourth structure.

In this wonderful spring weather, we decided to go for a bit of a hill walk. And where better than the very popular Ben A’an at the eastern end of Loch Katrine?