PERCHED ABOVE THE LITTLE TOWN OF DOLLAR IS CASTLE
CAMPBELL - ORIGINALLY CALLED CASTLE GLOOM (GLOUME).
The
villages of the Hillfoots stretch west along the slopes and valleys
of the Ochil Hills in Clackmannan's 'Wee Country' tempting the traveller
to the splendid and fascinating woollen Mill Heritage Trail across
scenic countryside. Sheep grazed for centuries on the rich hill pasture
and the rushing burns provided power for woollen mills, an essential
element for many of the other wool making processes, producing a product
eagerly bought in the markets of Stirling and Edinburgh.
Just past the recognised eastern extent of the region is Kinross
beside Loch Leven. A quiet town that houses Kinross House and Gardens,
constructed in Elizabethan classical revivalist style and standing in
open lawns with the gardens adjacent. Open April–Sept 7am –
10pm. (Admission charge). There is a popular Sunday General Market
here at the main bus depot at the edge of the town – 9am-5pm, quoted
as the largest in Scotland. Also at Kinross is Loch Leven Millshop
with a superb collection of knitted designs. The shop is run by Todd
& Duncan who have 100 years trading to their credit.
Just north of Kinross is Milnathort with its little kirk and
18th century graveyard perched on a hill at the north end of the town
affording good views of the surrounding countryside.
Loch Leven Castle, beside Kinross, has a summer ferry and in
the Loch is Castle Island, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned
in 1567.
Pool of Muchart, on the north-eastern border of Clackmannanshire,
most eastern of the Mill Trail villages is a regular winner of the title
of 'Scotland's Best Kept Village'.
North of Powmill, stands wondrous Rumbling Bridge, narrow
crossing over the 120ft deep chasm. A marvellous path, well fenced for
safety, winds down amongst dripping fern and moss allowing a view of
a previous (1713) lower bridge, sans parapets. Up-stream of the bridge
is romantic Maceachin's Cave where the eponymous runaway Jacobite
was hidden by the daughter of the local laird. Above it is Devil's
Mill where the tumbling waters roar like a man-made mill, not stopping
unlike man-made ones in Non-Conformist Scotland, on the Sabbath. Down-stream
is the Cauldron Linn, a double waterfall.
Dollar, a little west, at the foot of the glen of the same name,
is noted for its Academy, once John McNabb's School, now one of Scotland's
leading educational establishments. Brunt Mill, now part of the
Academy, dates from 1820. The little village with its attractive stone
cottages, sits astride the tree-lined River Devon.
