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5 Short Walks Around "DOUNE", Perthshire
**Directions To Get Here**
from
Glasgow take the A80 to Stirling then M9 to Dunblane
from
Edinburgh take the M9 to Dunblane
from
Perth take the A9 to Dunblane
from Dunblane take the A820, 3 miles to Doune
Park
in the Moray Park car park
in
the centre of the village
Public
Toilets are situated in Moray Park
**THE 5 WALKS**
Walk
1
The
Doune Trail
follow
the
YELLOW
way markers
aprox
5 kms,allow 1 hour
A
pleasant circular walk which takes you out of the village,
through
conifer and deciduous woodland
providing
good views of the distant mountains,
Start
from the Moray Park car park in the middle
of the village
follow
the sign to the Doune Trail north to the disused railway line,
at
the railway line turn right and follow the path watching out for the wild
roses & orchids
you
should also see Lapwings Oyster Catchers Kestrals
after
about 300m take the small track on your left (signposted) take the 5 small
steps
turn
left onto the track running alongside the woodland,
watch
out for Red & Grey Squirrels here,
stay
on this track until you reach the road
turn
left approx 30m on you will see the signpost for Commonly walk which
takes
you uphill with good views of Ben Vorlich in the north (985m)
and
Dumyat to the east above Stirling at the top of the hill
you
will have fine views of Doune the Castle and the Gargunnock Hills,
continue
on downhill with the Black Wood on your right
to
where the path meets a track at the bottom
turn
right leads you to the Doune Ponds nature reserve
continue
uphill and take the steps down to your left
a
left turn takes you back to the Moray Park car park
-----------------------------------------------------------------
WALK 2
Doune Castle and the River Teith
Again
starting from the Moray Park car park in the village centre
a
short walk from the village to the castle and round the Castle grounds,
Start
from the car park walk back to Doune main street turn left and follow
the
main street downhill the opening to the Castle is on the right
the
Castle is well worth a visit,one of the best preserved medieval castles
in Scotland
there
may have been a castle on this site since the 11th C
the
present Building dates from the 14th C built by the Duke of Albany,
in
the 15th C, Doune Castle became a royal residence and was frequently
visited
by the Stuart kings
the
infant James 11 had a nursery in the turret
during
the Jacobite rising in 1715 the castle was a rebels garrison
in
1746 it was visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie
he
used it to house his prisoners
a
ruin by 1800 the castle was restored in the 19th C by the Earl of Moray
and
is now owned by Historic Scotland
the
Castle overlooks the River Teith which offers some picturesque Riverside
strolls
explore
around the castle and along the river banks
lookout
for the Ice house, also see the wild flowers in the Meadow
see
the fish jumping in the river Teith
retrace
your steps to the Moray park car park
--------------------------------------
Walk 3
Doune Ponds Nature Reserve
a pleasant circular walk round the Doune ponds nature reserve 3km
Start
from the Moray Park car park cross the the playing field in a diagonal
direction
towards
the flats exit the park through the small gate and turn right onto the
road
follow
the road over the bridge crossing the old railway line and take a sharp
left turn
(signposted)
onto a smaller road which leads to the Doune Ponds
note
the standing stone in the car park
enter
the reserve through a small gate and follow the path there are a number
of
circular walks around and through the surrounding woodland
please
keep to the paths hides are provided for observing the water fowl here
retrace
your steps to return to the Moray Park car park
----------------------------------------------
Walk 4
Doune Railway Line
5km
allow 90 mins
a
flat circular walk from Doune along the old railway line to the hamlet
of Argaty
Start
from
the Moray Park car park follow the sign for the Doune Trail towards the
old
railway line (the old Dunblane - Tyndrum line)and turn right onto the path
follow
the path to the very end passing the Moto X track on your left
negitiate
2 small gates where the railway bridge is missing, lookout for wild orchids
there
are views of Ben Ledi (879m) behind you at the end ofthe railway line the
path
meets the road, turn right and follow the road to a junction marked
by
a bus shelter
you
are now in the Hamlet of Argaty (gaelic for windy heights)
lookout
for soaring Buzzards and Red Kites
follow
the road to the left past the saw mill and several cottages,
this
road will take you back to the village and Moray Park car park
----------------------------------------------------
Walk 5
Historic Doune Village
3km
allow 45 minutes
a
short stroll around Doune to discover the Village Heritage,
Start
at the Doune Castle car park
above
the car park on a piece of high flat land is the site of a Roman fortification,
turn
left behind tha gate cottage on the right you will see the Ardoch Burn
the
scattered medieval village was probably located here
where
the castle offered protection and a focus for trading
in
the 16th and 17th centuries the centre of the village moved
towards
its present location
head
for the main road turn left up the main street on your left is Kilmadock
Parish Church
of
the Presbyterian Church of Scotland built in 1822 to replace an earlier
church
of 1746
above
the door are the Earl of Moray's coat of arms the family have owned the
castle
and
much of the land around the village sincethe 16th C
cross
the road and at the Dairy look down the lane where an old stone
building
is said to be 1 of 3 Pistol factories between 1646 and 1800
Doune
was famed for its ornamental pistols one of which is reputed to have fired
the
first shot in the American Revolution
continue
along the main street you will see the Mercat Cross, Doune obtained a Royal
Charter
from
James V1 in 1611 giving the Earl of Moray the right to hold markets
the
top part of the cross dates from the early 18th C
and
shows the Moray Arms & the Argyle Arms
the
length of the main street was the location of the markets
held
up to 6 times per year for 200 years
take
the right fork into Balkerach Street & at Station Wynd
turn
right and walk to the end of the street and along a path
which
leads to Doune Ponds car park
on
your right in the car park is a standing stone the antiquity of this stone
is
uncertain but in the 18th C it was the focus of much haggling at the Doune
Fairs
Farmers
& Drovers from the Highlands came to sell there animals to dealers
who
drove them to Glasgow,Edinburgh & England,
at
the Doune Latter Fair in early November up to 10,000 cattle were sold
this
stone was where many of the deals were struck
while
the area which is now Doune Ponds was full of cattle
return
to the mercat cross, Graham Street was the birthplace in 1798
of
Alexander Ferguson who undertook experiments in toffee making
in
his parents small house in the lane
he
left the village ending up in Edinburgh where he invented Edinburgh Rock
the
sweet widely copied in seaside holiday resorts around Britain
from
this he made his fortune and returned to Doune to buy up
the
lane which was known for may years as Sweetie Lane
retrace
your steps to the Castle car park
Disabled & Less Adgile Ramblers
all of the walks here are reasonably easy and should be suitable for most people
Disabled access Toilets are situated in Moray Park