📌 Campsie Fells, Stirling
★★★
The Campsie Fells form an abrupt barrier to travellers heading north from Glasgow. Dumgoyne is probably the most popular hill in the range, but Meikle Bin enjoys equally good views, rising prominently from the eastern side of the surrounding plateau. With a shady approach on forestry tracks and a longer return along the Carron Valley Reservoir, this is a good bet for a hot day – you’ll also come across one of the most perfectly sited picnic benches you’re likely to find anywhere.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Carron Valley Reservoir near the start 
Glimpses of Meikle Bin from the forestry track 
River Carron, looking downstream 
View upstream 
Approach to Meikle Bin 
Stronend in the Fintry Hills with the Trossachs hills beyond 
A tree covered in Christmas decorations! 
Path up Meikle Bin’s northwest slopes 
Carron Valley Reservoir from the ascent 
Meikle Bin summit 
Birkenburn Reservoir 
Little Bin & Carron Valley Reservoir 
Meikle Bin from Peggie’s Spout (foreground) 
Return along Carron Valley Reservoir
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Todholes, B818 near outflow of Carron Valley Reservoir
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 673859
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.047414,-4.133024
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 15 km / 9 mi | ▲ 540 m | ⌛ 4-4.5 hr
Features: 💧 Carron Valley Reservoir; △ Meikle Bin (570 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); 🌊 Peggie’s Spout
⬤ Moderate | Mainly forestry tracks. Wide paths near summit and along Bin Burn, wet higher up.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit with extension to summit: start – River Carron outflow – Bin Bairn – Meikle Bin (signposted to this point) – return to junction between Bin Bairn & Little Bin – Peggie’s Spout – Burnhouse (ignore signposts) – start via reservoir shoreline
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Numerous woodland birds, mallards on the reservoir. Orange-tip butterflies lower areas.
Weather: Temperatures in the mid teens and extensive sunshine, but a fresh, cooling breeze.
April 2015
