Cycling Trails in Scotland: Gartmorn Dam

Family Friendly Rating: 70%

DISTANCE EST. TIME [Excl breaks] CALORIES
9 Miles 1 Hour, 20 minutes 345

Sterling Mills

Although it is a rather cold and wet Friday night, I thought a small cycle would have been a good way to build up some heat. I would recommend that you park in the Sterling Mills car park. This is free and has plenty of space. It has the added advantage of having a number of places to get food and drink. Within the Mills outlet village, BB's Coffee shop is excellent if you want a coffee and snack or you can get an ice-cream at Thorntons. If you would rather having something more filling, I would recommend either the Hub [located within Sterling Warehouse] or the Butterfly Inn. I eat regularly in both these restaurants and the food is always first class. The Hub is more of a canteen style restaurant where as the Butterfly Inn has more of Pub restaurant feel. Either way there are plenty of opportunities to refresh yourself here either before or after your cycle.

As most people are aware, I prefer to cycle on routes that minimise the use of roads and in particular busy main roads and whilst the start of this cycle requires you to cycle on a road it usually not very busy and it is not for very long. On the downside the road which leads up to the coal mining village of Coalsnaughton is quite steep and is quite a challenge depending upon your fitness level. Fortunately there is a small general store at the top of the hill so if you need a quick refreshment these can be purchased here. Be-aware, there is not alot of refreshment/toilet stops along this route.

Gatmorn Dam

Once you reach the top of the hill you will continue along the farm roads and paths until you get to Gartmorn Dam. Gartmorn Dam is Scotlands oldest reservoir dating back to 1713. It was home to the Sherrifyards Colliery which is now in ruin and a railway once extended up the west side of the dam to service this site. The ruins are easily missed, as although they are at the side of the path much of it has succumbed to nature. The old railway line is now the footpath, however, I headed the opposite way around the dam along initially the farm road and then on to the dirt path. The dam is now located in the Country Park of the same name and is home to a fishery. Fishing permits can be purchased at the visitors centre. There are plenty of resting places [picnic benches and seats] around the dam and I chose to rest for a moment at one near the visitors centre. After a quick call to Sarah, who was working, I recommenced the cycle heading past the visitors centre on my left. The visitors centre has toilet facilities and a very small shop. These are seasonal and are quite often not open when I visit the dam. There is also a small exhibition inside which can enlighten you on the history of the dam and provides details of the fauna and animals that inhibit this natural area.

Auchinbaird Windmill

From here there are two routes available in order to reach the Devon Way. One is to head over the hill on the right hand side as you leave the dam, although, it is easy to get lost in this forest and the cycling is not very easy, particularly heading this way round. Instead I decided to take the residential streets through Sauchie and whilst not particularly interesting it is a quick and easy route to get to the much more attractive Devon Way.

Once on the Devon Way heading back towards Tillicoultry the cycle becomes easier as the route is a gentle downhill gradient. A few hundred yards along this track I passed the Auchinbaird Windmill. Although this is up a small hill and slightly of track it is worth making a detour to see this fine example of an 18th Century windmill which was used to drain a coal pit and was later converted to a dovecot. The windmill has recently been refurbished thanks to the local council, however, it is the magnificent view of Ochils that is true appeal of this location.

Sauchie Tower

I continued along the cycle path for another couple of hundred yards, before exiting where the sign to Alva is located. This section of approximately 1 mile is along a fairly busy road but it is all downhill or flat and makes for an easy cycle. As you pass down this road you, if you look to your right you will see Sauchie Tower. This 15th tower house has recently been restored by a local community group, however, no access is permitted within the building. You can get within a few metres from the lane leading to the equestrian centre. The original lands of Sauchie were granted to Henri de Annand by King Robert the Bruce, but it would not be for another 110 years before Sir James Schaw of Greenock commenced the construction of this tower. Alexander Schaw commissioned the construction of a house in the courtyard to the North West of the tower. The house was unfortunately demolished in the 1920's after the land was purchased for coal mining. The tower remained in a fairly good condition and thanks to lottery funding in 2002, the tower was restored to it's current state.

Continuing along the road I passed the low lying fields of the Hillfoots valley, the magnificent Ochil hills directly in front of me, before reaching the Hillfoots Road. Crossing over the road, I headed up to rural lane towards the 'Woodland Park'. The Woodland Park offers a number of easy walks as well as a play park for children but I am just heading through for the path back to Tillicoultry. As I continue along this path it narrows considerable before opening up and heading back down towards Tillicoultry with Tillicoultry Golf Course on my right. I cycle down the side of Tillicoultry burn which once powered eight textile mills, crossed over the Hillfoots road before following the residential streets back to Sterling Mills car park.