Carron Valley Reservoir

Around 2 miles

START – Carron Valley car park (charge).

Stayed on the shoreline.
Forestry track to Todholes car park to explore soon.
Forestry track being resurfaced.

Great place! Plenty of signposts, impossible to get lost.
The car parking charge is a bit restrictive. You can either stay an hour (£1) or all day (£4). I put £2 pounds in the hope I could get 2 hours but no, one hour it was. A pity! It spoilt my walk at the beginning but two walkers reassured me not to worry, it is pretty relaxed.
I followed the shoreline path as they were doing some work on the forestry track that leads to the Todholes car park (Meikle Bin). Looks like a great cycle route.
So many great spots to stop for lunch. Beautiful scenery.

North Third Reservoir-Earlsburn Reservoirs

Around 4 miles one way

START – North Third Trout Fishery parking area. This is a bit of a weird walk. Not knowing if there was anywhere to park close to the Earlsburn Reservoirs, I decided to park at the North Third and walk from there. Lovely minor road. You can actually park right opposite the track leading to the Earlsburn Reservoirs.

North Third Trout Fishery parking area.
Walk past the North Third Reservoir.
Turn left at junction.
Parking area a mile from junction next to track (to Touchadam Muir?).
Parking spaces opposite track leading to the reservoirs.
Track to the reservoirs (and a house).
Owner of the house driving up.
Towards the house.
Thought it was Reservoir 2 in the distance and Reservoir 1 next, but I think I got it wrong.
Earlsburn Reservoir 2 (I thought it was 1).
Will come back to explore further.

Lovely discovery, great spot!
I thought I saw both reservoirs but looking at the map at home I realised I may only have seen Reservoir 2. Will park closer next time and explore further.

Loch Chon car park-Comer (farmhouse)

Around 4 miles (one way)

START – Loch Chon car park on B829.

Loch Chon (free) car park.
Turn right exiting car park.
Glimpse of Loch Dhu House.
Turn next on the right.
Towards Loch Dhu House.
Turn left (signposted Loch Ard).
Straight on at next junction (ignore signpost).
Straight on for Comer.
Glimpse of the farmhouse.
Track to the farmhouse.

This a remote farmhouse! Love the private track, great feeling up there.
Went to check the track heading left at the second Comer sign (instead of going to the farmhouse). Endless track, not sure where it leads…

Glinns Road-Gargunnock Hills (Kingsburn Wind Farm)

Around 4 miles (one way)

START – Parking area on the Glinns Road (minor road) beyond the Ballochleam Farm. Look out for signpost to Glinns Road on the A811 (on the left coming from Gargunnock towards Kippen).

Place to park on Glinns Road (past Ballochleam Farm). 4 or 5 cars.
Walk back towards the farm.
Ballochleam Farm.
Straight on (right for the farm).
Tricky.
Went left.
Kingsburn Wind Farm.
Took right turn.
Carron Valley Reservoir.
End of track.
Track opposite not too far.

Great track. Lovely views from up there, nobody around!

Kippen-Ballochleam Farm loop

5 (eventful) miles

START – Burnside in Kippen. Easy to park in the village.

Right turn before white house.
Folllow road, then track, for 30 minutes.
Was chased by 15 dogs at the farm! This is looking back, with 3 still barking.
Took left track.
Parking for the Spout of Ballochleam.
Ballochleam Farm.
Took left (public path to Kippen).
Straight on (although there was a left path).
Lost in the wood!
Fence all around!
Managed to get free! Retrace steps to white house.

I wouldn’t recommend this loop. Not only was I chased by around 15 dogs at a farm, there was a fence at the end of the walk between the wood and the road. It took me 30 minutes to find a way out. Thankfully two trees had fallen over the fence and lower it slightly.
The Public Path to Kippen isn’t great or I had the wrong directions.
I was trying to see if this walk could be a shortcut to get to Ballochleam Farm and the Spout of Ballochleam – it isn’t, but I managed to find out where people park to go to the Spout, next to the weak bridge.

Spout of Ballochleam (in search of)

Around 5 miles (one way)

START – Leckie Road in Gargunnock. Same start as the Gargunnock-Kippen walk here.

After row of houses…
Turn next on the left.
Just before signpost to Gargunnock.
Glinns minor road.
Walking on the road past a few farms.
Path from Kippen might provide quicker access?
The Garrique Farm.
Follow track to Ballochleam Farm.
Straight on (Ballochleam Farm on the right).
Follow track from here.
Spout of Ballochleam?

Great place but I’m not sure if I saw the Spout of Ballochleam! Was hoping to ask a fellow walker but there was nobody about. Maybe I stopped too soon. The track carries on to the Earlsburn Windfarm and reservoirs and then to the Todholes car park if I understood well. Leaving a car at each end will be perfect. Will come back again.

Leannach Forest circuit (walk)

5 miles

START – At the Leannach free car park on the Duke’s Pass (on the right coming from Brig o’Turk).

Leannach car park.
Walk past vehicle barrier.
Ignore right track (return).
Straight on (ignore left turn).
Ignore path to Ben Venue on the left.
Take narrow path down on the right.
Ignore left path.
Follow Brig o’Turk.
Ignore left path to Brig o’Turk and Callander a bit further on the left.
Left at the end of track, back to car park.

Very enjoyable loop!
It’s good to have directions from the Walkhighlands website (here) as it will be easy to get lost.

Bennybeg-River Earn Path (towards Muthill)

Around 4 miles

START – Bennybeg Plant Centre on the A822 (near Crieff).

Bennybeg Plant Centre.
Path at the back.
Follow Findal.
S Forr (minor road).
Look for signpost on the other side of the road.
Path to River Earn.
Follow Muthill.
Through Farm.
Signposts a bit further.
Took right path back to Crieff (lambing season, pregnant ewes on the path to Muthill).
Retrace your steps from here.

The River Earn Path is just fantastic!