📌 Touch Hills, Stirling
★★★
Gilmour’s Linn is an exceptionally attractive waterfall, unsigned and concealed in woodland on the edge of the Touch Hills. What makes it particularly special is a wide cave behind the fall, sometimes referred to as “Charlie’s Cave” in a reference to Bonnie Prince Charlie, who may have once hidden here (but probably didn’t). The approach route is also a bit complicated, so a map and directions are provided further down this page.
⚠️ Important
Increasing visitor numbers threaten to overwhelm the limited parking – please park responsibly (more info below), consider visiting at a quiet time to ease pressure during peak hours, and follow the 🔗 Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
🌍 Location
📌 On the Touch Burn 2 mi west of Cambusbarron
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 740925
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.108716,-4.027942
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Very limited verge parking (don’t block passing places) on minor road to Touch Filter Station, which is at 🧭 NS 747916 / 🛰️ 56.100919,-4.016545. There is no responsible parking at the filter station itself, but there are a few options for small cars between here & about 1.5 mi back towards the main road, with the largest space back at 🧭 NS 762920 / 🛰️ 56.105075,-3.992704
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 The route to the falls is a 1-2.5 mi / 30-60 min walk (each way) depending on how far up the road you have parked (⬤ Moderate).
- If you’ve parked well above (beyond) Touch Mollar Farm, 🧭 NS 751916 / 🛰️ 56.100829,-4.009606, follow the blue route on the map below, starting at the filter station. Walk up the road to the filter station then turn right onto a narrow path downhill. This leads to a grassy track which continues north (downhill) to meet a clearer track just before the buildings at Braehouse (300m from start). Turn left on this track, now climbing uphill (west) with woodland on either side, then along the right hand side of a field, and finally between two rows of trees. The track emerges from these trees at a faint crossroads; turn right (north) on a grassy path with some wet areas, soon descending towards Touch Burn. The path steepens on the final approach to the burn, with the falls just upstream from here. The falls are seen well from here, but entering the cave requires crossing the burn on potentially slippery boulders – not possible when burn levels are high.
- If you’ve parked nearby or below (before) Touch Mollar Farm, follow the red route on the map below, starting at the track junction immediately beyond the farm entrance. Walk up the road to this junction then fork right (passing Touch Mollar Farm on the left side) towards Braehouse Farm. Continue ahead at the buildings at Braehouse, also passing these on the left side. Keep straight ahead beyond the farm, now climbing uphill (west) with woodland on either side, then along the right hand side of a field, and finally between two rows of trees. The track emerges from these trees at a faint crossroads; turn right (north) on a grassy path with some wet areas, soon descending towards Touch Burn. The path steepens on the final approach to the burn, with the falls just upstream from here. The falls are seen well from here, but entering the cave requires crossing the burn on potentially slippery boulders – not possible when burn levels are high.
