Walk: Bridge of Allan & Dunblane – a Darn good walk

📌 Bridge of Allan, Stirling
★★★

The Darn Road is an historic byway linking the two towns of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, now mostly just a scenic path. Author Robert Louis Stevenson used to frequent the route as a child, and a small cave halfway along is claimed to be his inspiration for Ben Gunn’s cave in Treasure Island. Mossy old lanes and paths along field boundaries contrast with attractive riverside stretches; this is also one of our favourite walks in the area for autumn colours. After exploring Dunblane, maybe lingering for a bite to eat, return to the start using a mixture of tracks and (sometimes muddy) woodland paths to the west of the River Allan.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start on Blairforkie Drive, west side of Bridge of Allan town centre

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 789977

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.156382,-3.951234

🚆🚌 Bridge of Allan

🚗 Street parking nearby

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 210 m | ⌛ 3 hr

Features: 🏠 Bridge of Allan; 💧 Allan Water; 🕸 Ben Gunn’s cave; 🏠 Dunblane ★★ & town sights

⬤ Easy | Clear paths & tracks, gentle ascents / descents. Some mud, especially on return route, where navigation skills also required.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start & Bridge of Allan – Ben Gunn’s cave via east bank of River Allan – Dunblane (via Darn Road) & town sights – Hillside – Hungryhill Wood – Gallow Hill – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Red squirrel at Gallow Hill, sheep, mallard ducks, tits & other woodland birds. Buzzards, herons & goosanders on a previous visit.

Weather: 10°C, mix of sun & cloud.

November 2023