Waters under the bridge

BRIDGE of Allan is situated less than three miles from the centre of Stirling.

It began life as a small rural village, mainly made up of cottages and a mill. The wooded hill above the town is called mine woods, where copper was mined as early as the 16th century and at intervals thereafter right up to 1807. The main audit (entrance shaft) of the mine can still be seen today in mine woods.

The copper was used in the mint at Stirling to produce the first coinage of bawbees for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. In the 18th century two more shafts were created to drain spring water from the mine. This mineralised water soon attracted large numbers of people who came to "take the waters" due to its alleged healing powers. In 1820 samples of the water were analysed and shown to be rich in dissolved minerals. This eventually led to the development of the spa.

Most of the buildings that you see today in Bridge of Allan are from the Victorian era. This is because there was a spate of building work that took place when the village became a spa town. Spas were a popular pastime of the Victorians throughout Britain, and the one at Bridge of Allan attracted many people mainly made up of successful merchants and their wealthy families from the nearby cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was common for them to purchase a holiday home in the village and come to Bridge of Allan for holidays.

The spa routine began around the wells in the early morning, where it was recommended to drink four pint tumblers of mineral-rich water, which was pumped from the local spring. The rest of the day was spent enjoying fresh-air activities such as walks, riding, angling and, in warmer months, swimming in the Allan Water.

This walk begins from the Fountain Road car park in Bridge of Allan.

From Fountain Road turn left to cross Henderson Street at a safe point. Take Well Road up past the memorial park and follow the road as it curves round to the right, then take Kenilworth Road, the first on your right.

Carry on along Kenilworth Road until you reach Wellgate Drive on your left. Head up Wellgate Drive and take the small path on the right leading through to Pathfoot Drive. Pathfoot was once a small village of shoe-makers. Cross over to Logie Lane and continue over the bridge round the front of Blawlowan. This, the last surviving house of Pathfoot, was an inn and tannery in the 18th century. Drovers passed down the main route of Sherrifmuir Road on their way to the Falkirk Tryst (Cattle Market).

Take care crossing the Sherrifmuir Road, then continue along the track around the back of the University. You can continue along this old road, known as Back of the Dyke road, or go up the wooden steps and follow a parallel footpath through the woods. When you reach the metalled road, branch right and walk down past Logie Kirk and the old cemetery. Old Logie Kirk was built around 1400 and dedicated to St Serf.

The New Kirk was built around 150 years ago, with a new entrance being added from the public road 20 years later. In the cemetery, you can see the graves of Dr Paterson, a local doctor and internationally distinguished botanist and horticulturist (the clock in Henderson Street is a memorial to him), and the Henderson family, owners of Airthrey Castle.

Above you to the north is the Witches Crag, where The Witches of Logie were reputed to meet the De'l on Carlie Crag (Carlie or Carlin are old Scots words for witch). Walk along the road past the new Logie Kirk and down towards the main road. Take the small footpath that runs along to the left and carry on into Blairlogie.

In the early part of the 19th century the village gained a reputation as a health resort. The oldest building is The Blair, formally known as Blairlogie Castle, a private residence built in the 16th century for Alexander Spittal, a Stirling merchant. To return, either retrace the route you've just covered or take public transport.

Distance: 4.5km

Time: one hour, 30 mins

OS Map: Explorer 366 – Stirling and Ochil Hills West

For further information on walking in Scotland log on to www.visitscotland.com/walking

For further information on Bridge of Allan log on to www.bridgeofallan.org