ISSN 0262-2211

Charity Registered in Scotland (SCO 08738)

Clackmannanshire

Field

Studies

Society

Newsletter ____________________________89

Vol. 41 Part I

October 2012

Volume 41 Part I Newsletter No. 89

October 2012

CONTENTS Page No.

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Editorial Isobel Wood 2

AGM - Chairperson‘s Report Edward Stewart 4

Dates for your Diary

CFSS Winter Programme 2012/13 10

Forth Naturalist & Historian 11

Dollar History Society 12

The Clackmannan History Society 13

Stirling Field & Archaeological Society 14

Tullibody History Group 15

Reports from Summer Outings & Field Trips

Spring Field Trip—April 13th

—16th Oban Isobel Wood 16

Wednesday Walks

Cambus to Menstrie Jack Archibald 20

RSPB Skinflats Inter tidal Nature Reserve Edward Stiubhart 22

Larbert House and Hospital Country Park Isobel Wood 26

Union Canal Towpath and Avon Gorge Aqueduct Jack Archibald 27

Alloa Swing Bridge Edward Stiubhart 29

Gartmorn Farm Jack Archibald 34

Saturday Outings

Kinnoull Hill Edward Stiubhart 35

The Highland Chocolatier, Cluny House Gardens &

The Scottish Crannog Centre Jack Archibald 38

Bits and Bobs of Loch Leven Circuit Edward Stiubhart 41

Visit to the Glasgow Necropolis Jack Archibald 46

From 42 Years Ago Vol. 1 No.2 March 1971 50

2

EDITORIAL Isobel Wood

Unfortunately I have not been very well this summer which means I

have not been to a lot of the outings. I went to the outing last Saturday

and I felt much better. Eddie has kindly helped to fill some of the

spaces and has supplied the next section.

Weather Disrupts the Summer Programme

May 9th Menstrie Glen, Loss Dam & Jerah, with Jack Archibald

The weather this year has been terrible, and some of our summer

programme had to be changed or cancelled. The first walk had to be

changed. The heavy downpour of rain had made the Mensrtie Glen area

impossible and very dangerous for walking. The walk scheduled for

August 22nd (Cambus to Menstrie via Old Railway) was carried out on that

evening.

July 11th Japanese Garden, Cowden, with Sir Robert Stewart

This was cancelled. The gardens are going through a phase of partial

restoration, and the heavy rain that persisted for several days prior to the

walk turned the gardens into a sea of mud, far too dangerous to walk.

Sir Robert has kindly offered to make another walk available later into the

autumn, around October. Let‘s hope the weather gets better.

Members will be advised when a date comes to hand.

July 28th Loch Leven Bits & Bobs, with Eddie Stewart Michael Bruce Way. We had to omit part of the walk along the side of

Bishops Hill due to ground conditions. This resulted in our missing out the

visit to the Michael Bruce Museum at Kinnesswood.

August 8th Alva Ponds with Susan Mills

Susan had to call off at the eleventh hour due to work commitments. I

made an executive decision and cancelled the scheduled walk as I wasn‘t

familiar with the Alva Pond area. I therefore changed it to Alloa Swing

Bridge, a walk which I‘m very familiar with.

It was a beautiful summer evening, however, the midges thought so as well,

and they turned out in their millions, and made their presence felt. Just as

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well the carnivore midge wasn‘t out as only a few of us might have been

left to tell the tale. (Avon Skin So Soft is a good midge repellent).

August 22nd New paths at Gartmorn Dam

with Jack & Sadie Archibald

The walk at Menstrie Glen was still out of the question. So Jack & Sadie

arranged another walk which was linked to the new paths which have been

opened at Gartmorn Dam.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the change to the

programme. However, we have a duty to err on the side of safety for all

members participating on the walks.

The Coffee Morning is coming up and I would like to thank everyone for

their donations as well as giving up their time to help. You will be told the

amount we raised at the AGM, or perhaps sooner.

The subscriptions have stayed the same this year. I would like to thank all

the people who pay their subscriptions in good time as this helps both our

subscription Secretary and Treasurer.

We do not usually put references to the members of the Council in the

Newsletter. I thought it would be nice to have a record of them in this

newsletter.

Chairperson: Mr. Eddie Stewart;

Treasurer: Mr. Eddie Stewart;

Secretary: Mrs. Marilyn Scott;

Membership Secretary: Mrs. Sadie Archibald

Members: Mr. Jack Archibald, Mrs. Margaret Forsyth, Mrs. Nancy

Henderson and Ms. Susan Mills.

As you can see we are not a big Council, if anyone would like to join us on

the Council you would be made most welcome!

Eddie Stewart, David Hunter and I opened the Old Kirkyard and Mar &

Kellie Mausoleum, with good weather, on Sunday 2nd September for Open

Doors Days. It was a very successful day. Seventy four people signed in

for the tour.

4

I went to visit Ken MacKay in a care home in Dunblane. This care home

looked lovely and comfortable. Ken would like to convey his condolences

to the CFSS members, on the deaths of Betty Roy, Isobel G. Stewart and

Alistair Cruickshank. He looked very well and was very chatty. Bob and

Alison Snaddon had a lovely afternoon with him.

I hope everyone enjoys reading this newsletter.

Chairperson’s Report, presented on behalf of the

Trustees of Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society

on the 28th May, 2012.

On behalf of the trustees I have pleasure in presenting the

42nd Annual Report detailing the activities of the Society

over the past twelve months.

Firstly, on behalf of the trustees, we extend a very warm

welcome to our Annual General Meeting, and a sincere

thanks for your loyal support over the past years since the

society’s inception, and in particular during the past twelve

months.

During the past twelve months we have sustained the loss

of a number of great stalwarts of the Society: Roy Wood,

Betty Roy, MBE, Isobel G Stewart, Rev. Alistair

Cruickshank, Helen (Ella) Murray and Betty Bakken. Our

thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.

Each contributed their own particular enthusiasm to the

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Society, and we are the richer of having known them and of

enjoying their company over many years. We also take this

opportunity to thank members who through illness or who

wish to retire after many years of faithful membership of

the Society. Fair thee well, faithful member, we wish you

peace and contentment.

The Summer Programme of 2011 was attended by an

average of 14 members and non-members, who thoroughly

enjoyed the varied events which were organized by

members of the committee who undertook the task of

checking out each walk with meticulous care and providing

as much information that could be found. Also the

knowledgeable information which members shared was

welcoming.

At this time I would like to take this opportunity to thank

all who contributed and to all who participated, thoroughly

enjoying the Wednesday evenings and the Saturday

walks….YES ….there is still plenty room for more members

also non-members to come along and join in with all these

events, it is good for you, it stimulates the mind and body.

We take this opportunity to give a SPECIAL THANKS, to

individuals from other organizations who guided CFSS

organized walks within their particular area. Their

particular knowledge and expertise was invaluable, and

made these walks a pleasurable experience.

The Winter Programme of 2011-12. Once again a big thanks

to committee members who organized the speakers for the

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ten events, the topics that was presented were a nice

balance of local subject and a wider field of national and

inter-national, this is no small feat. We take this

opportunity to once again thank very sincerely all our

speakers for their particular presentations, the attendance

of members and non-members, on average 40. This is

particularly gratifying to the committee and it gives

encouragement to the committee to search every avenue

for new and exciting Presentations. The committee gives its

sincere thanks, and looks forward to your continued

support for 2012-13.

Grateful thanks, to all who set up the equipment in the

afternoon, strips it down and takes it back to the room,

attending to the register, preparing the coffee and tea,

where, members can relax and chat for a short time after

the meeting.

Last September the Society took part in Scottish

Archaeology week, by organizing a walk from the Weir at

Forest Mill, along the 2.5 miles of the Lade which carried

the water from the Black Devon to form the Gartmorn

Dam. These waters were then carried on by another Lade

to de-water the Earl’s pits at Sauchie. This water carried on

to power Caresbridge distillery, textile mills at Gaberston,

Springfield, then Alloa Corn Mill, and then John Paton’s

Mill, finally to a dam which was situated S East of Alloa

Tower, which was released at low tide to cleanse the Alloa

Harbour of mud. This was to celebrate the Tercentenary

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of the construction of the Weir and Lade by the Sixth Earl

of Mar 1711-1713. Unfortunately the event wasn’t a success

due to lack of support. Again thanks to everyone who

assisted in organizing.

During 2010-11, a booklet was produced and was published

in May 2011. This booklet was produced by Murray

Dickie, a founder member of the CFSS in 1970. Murray

wrote the original pamphlet for the Clackmannan County

Education Committee in 1973. The Society expressed an

interest to reprint this pamphlet, and when Murray was

approached, without any hesitation he agreed to produce

a second edition, with the aid of all the extra material

which he had stored in his attic. So thanks to Murray

Dickie and to the Society’s committee members, we have a

booklet which celebrates the Tercentenary of the Sixth Earl

of Mar’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution of

Scotland. “The Craigrie and Gartmorn Lades” which is

priced at £4.00 per copy. We commend it to the Society

members and non-members; no home library will be complete

without it.

Early January 2012, the Society wrote to the

Clackmannanshire Council highlighting the fact that a

Museum is desperately needed for Clackmannanshire,

and despite the promises made over many years by

previous administrations, didn’t came to fruition.

We have a reply from the Council. (See copy of letter, which

is available)

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The Society is actively considering “TO ADOPT A

MONUMENT”. This is a scheme which is under the

auspices of Archaeology Scotland and Historic Scotland,

and is open to various grants. The Monument in question

is the “Horse shoe Weir” on the River Black Devon,

Forest Mill.

First the Society has to gain approval from the Landowner

where the Monument is situated. As already mentioned,

this was built by the Sixth Earl of Mar, 1711-13. This was

to raise the river by 16 feet, to enable the water to flow

down the 2.5 mile Lade to Gartmorn Valley where an

earthen Dam was constructed to store water, so as to de-

water the Earls pits at Sauchie. The society has to look to

the future. This monument at present is in excellent

condition with the care and maintenance it received over

the years up to 2006, when Gartmorn Dam ceased to be a

public water supply.

We are hoping to be in a position to advise you of the

progress we have made in “Adopting this Monument”, at

the AGM.

We wish to draw member’s attention to the difficulty we

are experiencing in complying with the Society’s

Constitution. At present we have only eight elected

members on the Committee. We are currently working

with Four short of our minimum requirement. See: excerpt

from the Society’s Constitution.

5, ELECTION (Current Excerpt from Constitution)

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The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership

Secretary and not less than eight or more than twelve

other members of the Council shall be elected annually

at the Annual General Meeting. The Council shall be

empowered to elect such other office – holders or sub –

committees as necessary.

The proposal which is of necessity emanates from the

committee. A notice of motion will be presented at the

AGM will consist of the following;

The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership

Secretary and four other members of the Council, Making the

total of eight members of the Council. The council shall be

elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Council

shall be empowered to elect such other office – holders or sub

– committees as necessary.

Edward Stewart, Treasurer.

20th April, 2012.

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CFSS Winter Programme 2012/13 Meetings are held in Alloa Town Hall (Tommy Downs Room), unless

otherwise stated, on Monday evenings -2nd and 4th of the month- 7:30 to

9:30 pm. Members of linked societies and other non-members are

welcome, though non-members would be expected to join for subsequent

visits.

Sat. 8th Sept. Coffee Morning, St Mungo's RC Church Hall, Mar Street,

Alloa 10 am -12 noon. Tickets £1.50

2012

October 8th Presentation TBA Fergus Cook, P&KC Ranger

22nd An Island Apart: The impact of Rome North of the Forth

Murray Cook, Stirling Co archaeologist

November 12th Clocks on Public Buildings within Clackmannanshire

Robert Lindsay, CFSS

26th Excavation at Alloa Tower Allyson Bailey

December

10th Members Night

2013

January 14th Drovers of Falkirk Tryst Ian Scott, Calatria

28th Loch Leven & River Leven, A Landscape Transformed

Prof. David Munro

February 11th Woodland Trust Scotland Jim Christie

25th Scottish Toponymy in Transition TBA

March 11th Kite Photography Dr John & Rosie Wells, Jim Knowles

25th Alloa Warrior Susan Mills, CFSS

May 6th AGM cheese & wine

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Forth Naturalist & Historian

Saturday 17th November 38th Man and the Landscape symposium

How Green is my Valley? Environment health in the Forth Valley

Information at http://www.fnh.stir.ac.uk

Environmental health can mean many things. For this year's symposium

we see it in two ways. First, the environment needs to be in good health,

physically. The history and practice of environmental management is often

seen in doom-laden context of impending ecological crisis. We forget that

there have been and are plenty of ways in which individuals and

institutions have desired to maintain and improve our region. This work

goes on unnoticed by most. We want to celebrate these activities. Second,

the environment gives us good health. Access to and enjoyment of the

countryside gives us innumerable physical and mental benefits. We want to

see how our landscape has, over centuries, been given back to us.

This symposium will focus on ‘good news’ stories that have made, or hope

to make a beneficial difference to the Forth Valley and its environs. Some

contributions will take us back several hundred years into the past but

which still affect our lives today. Others will reflect on what improvement

means or has meant in the past. We’ll look to present-day initiatives and

wonder what ‘oak trees’ will grow from seemingly ‘little acorns’. And

we’ll explore how we might each make a difference.

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Programme 2012-2013

2012 11th September Q Ships The Grangemouth Connection.

Mr. Geoff. Bailey, Keeper of Archaeology and Local History in Falkirk.

9th October The Falkirk Trysts. Mr. Ian Scott, Falkirk Local History

Society.

13th November Scotland's historic global links viewed from the Ochils.

Mr. Robin Bell, Writer and broadcaster.

11th December Roman frontiers in their landscape setting.

Professor David Breeze, Former Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments

for Scotland.

2013

8th January What you didn't know about Tullibody

Mrs.ChrisChris.Calder,. Tullibody History Group

12th February What was the Scottish Enlightenment?

Dr. Nicholas Phillipson, Edinburgh University.

12th March South with Shackleton.

Professor David Munro,Former Director of the Royal Scottish

Geographical Society.

9th April The Queen's Body Guard for Scotland (The Royal Company

of Archers). Col. R. Callander, Secretary of the Royal Company of

Archers.

14th May AGM followed by:-Charles Rogers –a Monumental Man?

Mr. J. Malcolm Allan, of Bridge of Allan.

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Winter Programme 2012 – 2013 Our 61st Year

Saturday 15th September ―Bringing a Graveyard to Life‖

By Eleanor Young

Saturday 20th October ―Sight and Sound in Harmony‖

By John Patton on behalf of Stirling and District Camera Club

Saturday 17th November ―The Adam Family of Blairadam‖

By Elizabeth Adam

Saturday 19th January ―The Historic Erskine Family‖

By Jamie Mar and Kellie

Saturday 16th February ―Antarctica‖

By Sandy Jack

Saturday16th March ―AGM and Members Night‖

An evening for members to show slides from their own collections

All meetings at 7pm in Clackmannan Church Hall JMB / Secy.

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WINTER PROGRAMME

2012/2013

Meet in the Smith Museum, Albert Place, Stirling

At 7.30pm

Tuesday 9th

October

COMMENTS ON NATIVE AMERICAN

AND HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN CALIFORNIA

Paul McCormick

Retired Lecturer in Anthropology

Tuesday 13th

November

A HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL STIRLING AND ITS HINTERLAND

THROUGH THE PRISM OF PLACE-NAMES

Peter McNiven

Glasgow University

Tuesday 11th

December

COMMUNITY AND ARCHAEOLOGY: YEAR 1

Murray Cook

Regional Archaeologist

Tuesday 8`" January

AN OVERVIEW OF SCOTTISH PLANTS

David Black

Volunteers Co-ordinator of Plantlife Scotland

Tuesday 12th

February

THE WORK OF THE WOODLAND TRUST

IN CENRAL SCOTLAND

Jim Christie

Woodland Trust

Tuesday 13th

March

Annual General Meeting

& Members Night

Scottish Charity No: SC026822

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TULLIBODY HISTORY GROUP

Scottish Charity SC 033965

Winter Programme 2010/11

Meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month

They are held in The Heritage Centre and start at 7.30

Talk Schedule

2012 2013 SEPTEMBER 27TH JANUARY 31ST

ALASTAIR DURIE SCOTTISH SABBATH

GEOFF BAILEY THE ANTONINE WALL

OCTOBER 25TH FEBRUARY 28TH

JULIAN WARD WHAT THE VIKINGS

DID FOR US

ALASTAIR MAXWELL-IRVING SCOTTISH TOWER HOUSES

NOVEMBER 29TH MARCH 28TH

DAVID BYTHEWAY JOURNALISM

ALISTAIR LAWSON THE HISTORY & WORK OF

THE SCOTTISH RIGHTS OF WAY SOCIETY

DECEMBER 18TH APRIL 25TH

CHRISTMAS PARTY MURRAY DICKIE EARLY FARMING IN THE

OCHIL HILLS

MAY 30TH

AGM

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Spring Weekend Trip 13th — 16th April 2012

Great Western Hotel, Oban

Twenty people went on the weekend trip to Oban. The weather was very

good Friday

This was our first stop so that we could meet up together.

Kilmahog

The Wool Mill Visitor Centre was once part of the self-supporting cottage

industry and its original water wheel is incorporated within the building.

Wool was dyed on the premises as well as being spun there. It was then

wound onto bobbins ready for weaving. Three men ran the business. A

spinner, Betty Roy‘s Grandfather knitted socks for the shop. For a time

they also manufactured fishing rods. The building at the end of the village

on the right was originally the Toll House.

Cruachan the Hollow Mountain

Just a short distance from Oban, here you can discover one of the hidden

wonders of the Highlands. A power station buried one kilometre below the

ground. Hidden deep within the mountain of Ben Cruachan, on the shores

of Loch Awe is Cruachan Power Station. A five star visitor attraction, its

visitor centre welcomes over sixty thousand visitors each year.

As its centre lies a massive cavern, high enough to house the Tower of

London. Here enormous turbines convert the power of water into

electricity, available to you in your home at a flick of a switch!

The hollow mountain is a place like no other, an underground world on a

spectacular scale.

Bonawe Iron Furnace

Bonawe Iron Furnace, a relic from an industrial past produced 700 tons of

iron per year from 1753 to 1876. We had a guided tour here.

Your first reaction on finding a large iron furnace in this beautiful spot is to

look at a map to work out where the iron ore came from.

Your second is probably to look at the quarrying visible on the hillside at

Bonawe on the far side of Loch Etive. The discovery that the ore, turned

into iron at Bonawe, actually came by sea from Furness, (in what is now

Cumbria) is a surprising one. Why would they bother?

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The answer revolves around the problem of transporting the fuel. Until the

widespread use of coke in the late 1700s, iron furnaces depended for fuel

on charcoal. The large scale production of charcoal needed an awful lot of

trees. Still worse, transporting the charcoal was a hugely wasteful business.

The approach adopted by the English iron masters who ran the business

was to take the iron to the source of the fuel. As early as 1610 they had set

up a furnace near Gairloch in the far North West. Argyll contained

plentiful woodland and Loch Etive became one of a number of centers to

which ore was transported for smelting. Their first efforts in this immediate

area were further up Loch Etive at Glen Kinglass. This only operated from

1722 to 1738. The lessons learned were used when setting up the Bonawe

furnace in 1753.

At its height, the Bonawe furnace was the centre of a significant settlement.

The manager would have been supported by perhaps eight men producing

the iron, plus up to a dozen more involved in arranging the delivery of the

charcoal and maintenance of the site. They and their families, many from

England, occupied the workers' houses still visible around the site.

Bonawe today is set on a beautifully grassy slope facing north towards

Loch Etive. The higher parts of the slope are occupied by the large

charcoal stores, plus the ore shed, still stained red from the ore. The ore

shed also houses a fascinating series of displays charting the history of the

site and information about the iron making process. Also on the site is a

bark house. The oak bark, produced as a side product of the charcoal

making, was valuable for the tanning industry.

But the heart of the site today, as during its productive life, is the furnace

itself. The upper parts of this show what worker's lives would have been

like feeding the furnace, while the furnace itself can be seen from below

via the hearth. Outside it is still possible to see where the mill raced from

the reservoir to the south, together with the pit in which the water wheel sat

until 1941.

Dunstaffnage Castle

We had a guided tour here.

Standing on top of a rock outcrop it lies three miles north of Oban.

Dunstaffnage Castle is an impressive fortification overlooking what was

once the most important junction of the sea-lanes on the west of Scotland.

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This has been a defended site for nearly 1500 years. By 1249 the fortress

here was held by the MacDougall‘s, appointed by King Hakon IV of

Norway.

Dunstaffnage Castle is surrounded by attractive woodland and grassy areas

sweeping past the Visitor centre to the shore of Dunstaffnage Bay.

Saturday Three Isles Excursion MULL—IONA—STAFFA from

OBAN

We began at Oban then took the ferry for Isle of Mull, crossing the Firth of

Lorn to Craignure on Mull. Then by bus to the ferry at Fionnphort to Staffa.

Nearly everyone got off the boat and onto the Island of Staffa. The climb

to Fingal‘s Cave was quite steep but nearly everyone made it and came

back in very good spirits. There were puffins swimming around the boat

this trip which was just perfect. The ferry took us to Iona. On rout we

could see Benedictine Nunnery and the Reilig Oran, the burial place of the

kings on the route to Iona. All on lovely sunny day, with calm seas.

Janet Wright, Nessie Calder, Brenda Jenkinson and

Bill Calder at the top of Fingals Cave on Staffa

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Sunday Ardmaddy Castle Garden

Minette Struthers welcomed us to her beautiful gardens.

Ardmaddy rises above its formal walled garden on one side with

outstanding views of the Islands on the other. Visitors approach the garden

by an old arched footbridge over a burn finding its final path to the sea. A

fine collection of species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas and climbing

plants line the walls with a variety of shrubs and herbaceous perennials.

Between dwarf box hedges flourish a wide range of interesting vegetables

and cane fruits which are grown using labour-saving methods.

Walks take you through mixed shrubs, trees and spring flowering bulbs

leading on to the water gardens and up into the bluebell woods among

which are some fine rhododendrons more than half a century old. There

have exceptional colours especially in autumn. A ―clock garden‖ with

cutting flowers, stone and water features was recently added to the garden.

Then we went on the Bridge over the Atlantic. The bridge was built in

1792/3 at a cost of £450 and was designed by John Stevenson of Oban and

built by Robert Mylne. On the far side of the bridge is Tigh an Truish Inn.

The name means house of the trousers comes from the period after the

1745 rebellion when kilts were banned. The sign outside the Inn, for

Younger‘s Brewery of Alloa, it is a very old sign.

A very short crossing on a small boat to Easdale Island

For 200 years this was a slate mining island. The Island is cover in slate

and it makes a different kind of landscape. It now houses some cottages

for holidays and some people stay on the Island. Some of the group walked

round the Island which took about 20 minutes. There are no cars or Lorries

on the Island. The mode of transport is wheelbarrow. We visited the Folk

Museum which was opened in 1981. The whole Island is of historical

interest and the museum is the place to find all the information about the

history of the Island. There is a bar and restaurant which is the social hub

of the Island.

Kilbrandon Church (Isle of Seil)

Kilbrandon Church warmly welcomes families and people of all ages from

all walks of life. This is a beautiful Church on a beautiful Site. The

stained glass windows were designed by Douglas Strachan. Douglas

Strachan made the window in the church I go to Tillicoultry Parish Church.

20

I have a DVD telling us about the church and hope to play it at the

Christmas Evening of the CFSS.

Some of us then visited the Oban Chocolate Company, for Coffee and Cake

and to buy chocolates.

MONDAY Ardchattan Priory and Gardens

Ardchattan Priory and Gardens are close to the north shore of Loch Etive.

Duncan MacDougal, Lord of Argyll was the founder. The Priory and

gardens date back to 1230 and had continuously evolved over the centuries.

This is where some grave slabs and other monuments are. Ardchattan

Priory was founded by monks, of the Valliscaulian order, by Duncan

MacDougall in 1231. The Priory only entered the wider flow of Scottish

history once. In 1308 when King Robert the Bruce held what is said to be

the last Scottish Parliament ever conducted in Gaelic here during a military

expedition to Argyll.

After the Priory and gardens we drove through Glen Coe and this was a

real treat. The sun was shining and the hills were covered in snow. This

had a lasting memory.

Isobel Wood

Cambus to Menstrie via old railway line (loop line)

Wednesday 9th May 2012

The first walk of the Summer Programme started with a change of venue

as conditions underfoot in Menstrie Glen were horrendous. Our revised

walk, on the evening of 9th May, proved to be a bit different with tarmac all

the way (which had been completed the previous month). This path was a

result of a joint effort between Clackmannanshire Council and Sustrans, a

charity that masterminds the setting out of footpaths and cycle-ways

through out the country.

Now to the walk, where six members and a guest made their way to the

banks of the River Devon, at Cambus. The meeting point was the Iron

Bridge adjacent to Cambus Cooperage.

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The first part of the path was completed last year and it had been a focal

point when we did the Black Grange Circular. The path follows the banks

of the Devon on one side and on the other the new Cooperage which was

completed this year. After a bit of ‗zig-zagging‘ through a cattle grid and

under a bridge, that takes the Alloa to Stirling railway line, we reached the

intersection where the original railway line meets the new path.

From there it was a straight line for a considerable distance, passing on the

way a stone-built doo-cot in a ruinous state. There is no indication when it

was built or who built it.

Our next point of interest was the Dumyat Industrial Estate, another recent

construction. From there it was a bit of an intersection as we met the old

Stirling Road, which has been a pathway for some considerable time. We

then passed under the old Road Bridge. As this is situated under the

comparatively new Road Bridge we were able to see the changes in

construction methods between stone and concrete.

It was then straight ahead through the Carse Lands until we reached the

River Devon again. The Railway Bridge must have been unsafe as a new

foot bridge has been cleverly constructed on top of the old steel girders -

quite impressive!

We now entered Menstrie from a completely different angle as we

normally see it. We had to think where we actually were. One thing I did

not mention when approaching Menstrie was that Dumyat was ablaze with

yellow gorse, what a wonderful sight.

The point when we passed under the hump back bridge on the Menstrie

Tullibody road was the end of the track. This always provides a thrill when

you pass over it in a car!

It was then about turn and we made our way back to Cambus. It was a

great pity we could not go on to Alva, the full length of the Loop. Maybe

some day it will come to fruition. It turned out quite an evening and was

enjoyed by all. One final thing, we walkers were in the minority as the path

was overwhelmed by cyclists!

A short history of Alva Loop

The Alva Loop was built around 1861/63 by the Alva Railway Company

which was founded in 22nd July 1861 with enactment of the Alva Railway

Act. The company capitol, to fund the work at the time, was £15,000

divided into 1500 shares of £10.00 each. Amazingly at today‘s rates we

could maybe purchase 2 dozen railway sleepers for that sum of money!

22

The chairman of the company was James Johnstone of Alva House a

respected landlord of that time. Other directors were Alexander McNab

owner of Glenochil Distillery, James Porteous owner of Alva Woollen Mill,

William Ross joint proprietor of Brookfield Mill and James Lochead who

owned Alva‘s Erskine Street. We have to thank them for the walk.

Jack Archibald.

Wednesday 23rd May, RSPB, Skinflats, Inter tidal Nature Reserve

And Flood Alleviation Scheme

Toby Wilson from RSPB

Conservation, our host and

guide, greeted us on arrival

and I had the pleasure of

introducing our nine members

to him.

He then gave us a short

introduction on the Intertidal

habitats such as the saltmarsh

and mudflats that support a

fantastic wealth of wildlife,

and deliver important benefits

for people living and working near the seas and estuaries. Sadly these

habitats have been lost in Scotland over the years, mainly through

reclamation for farming and development. Skinflats is one of the Firth of

Forth‘s intertidal habitats that provides vital food for internationally

important numbers of wintering wildfowl and wading birds, but as this area

has a long history of industrial and agricultural use, that has resulted in a

loss of valuable habitat. With every new pressure from development,

climate change, and disturbance to the birds using the Forth, there is a need

for action on large scale to protect this rich heritage, and to make the most

of opportunities for sustainable flood management and climate change

mitigation. To this end the area was chosen to trial in a small way the

effects of flood alleviation. Hopefully larger schemes will follow which

23

will deliver water framework directive aims and a more sustainable

solution to managing flood risk.

After this short introduction talk we proceeded to walk over the site, first

going west over the south sea wall towards the Kincardine Bridge, then

turning and proceeding back east between the old sea wall built around

1785 and the ponds that were

recently created. During the walk

Toby explained various aspects and

took question from the group.

Suddenly there was a moment off

panic, when Morag disturbed a

small ―Gentleman in a Black Velvet

Coat‖, we don‘t know who got the

biggest freight Morag or the small

Gentleman. After everyone calmed

down, we continued to where the sea

wall had been breached to allow a controlled flow of water. During

extreme weather the whole area can fill up to alleviate flood conditions

within the area.

On returning where we started the walk we concluded with a five to ten

minute general question and answer session. Everyone had thoroughly

enjoyed the evening; the weather had been good and most importantly

there had been no midges.

The Society members gave a hearty vote of thanks to Toby; recently

married and just home a few days from his honeymoon. We asked him to

convey our regards to his wife, and to apologise to her for keeping him out

so late.

RECLAMATION PRIOR TO 1850 Foreshore Reclamation. The tidal part of the estuary lies below Stirling,

and here we have different conditions to consider. No doubt the flat

carse land in this section of the valley was originally all more or less of

a peaty swamp. It still contains patches of deep peat at Dunmore and

Letham Moss near Airth, but most of the ancient bogs were drained and

reclaimed long ago, and the modern reclamations have been confined to

the straights of foreshore below Alloa along both margins of the Forth.

The whole of the tidal rise and fall in the Firth is 18 feet at ordinary

24

springs, but reaches 19 or 20 feet at extreme equinoctial tides or after

the prevalence of winds which raise the level of the North Sea at the

same time. Between Bo‘ness and Alloa there is at the foot of the high

ground a strip of low-lying land which slopes gradually down to the

estuary. It includes a wide fringe of foreshore covered at spring tides

with very little water and partly dry for several days at high water of

neap tides. The fringe next to the shore was once, and is still to a small

extent, merely a salt marsh overgrown with plants which thrive in such

water-logged ground.

After the middle of the eighteenth century, when the general industrial

awakening began in Scotland, various riparian owners of the saltings

and shallow foreshores sought to add to their estates by constructing

dykes on the Dutch principle to exclude the tide from the bays and

shallow parts of the foreshore, and confine the river between regular

banks, with the effect of straightening and improving its channel below

Alloa.

The Foreshore at Skinflat Nature Reserve From, H.M. Caddell ,

DL. Scottish Geographical Magazine, VOL. 45 (1929)

A short account is given in the Transactions of the Highland Society for

1831 (vol. X111. p. 102) by Joseph Udney, a and surveyor who surveyed

and laid off the new ground after the reclamation was completed. We

are informed that the surface of the foreshore was raised by warping. A

line of strong fir stakes 7 feet long and 4 feet apart, driven 4 feet into

the mud was first laid out on the outer side of the intake. The stakes,

which projected 3 feet above the mud, were interlaced or warped by

wattles of brushwood so as to produce a sheltered backwater where

mud could settle. There must have been an immense quantity of it, since

at the end of the first year the mud inside had risen 3 feet to the top of

the wattling. Second and third lines each a few feet inside the first were

then constructed, and at the end of three years it was found that the mud

had silted up 9 feet, when the surface had risen to the level of the

adjacent land and the reclamation was complete. The proprietor, Sir

Lawrence Dundas of West Kerse, by that simple operation about the

year 1784, gained 200 acres from the sea in three years, and the expense

of the embankment did not exceed £200, or £1 per acre.

25

Mr Udney laid out the land and farmhouses were built on it. In the

fourth year after operations began, the new land was sown down with

rape, which produced a fairly good crop. After the fifth year, when the

farm-steadings were built, the land was let at £4 per acre, so that for an

outlay on the acquisition of land from the sea amounting to £200 plus

the cost of the farm buildings, the annual return was £800. This result,

to say the least, was highly encouraging.

―The whole operation of embanking and gaining ground by stakes, and

warping of common fir, is so simple and effectual, that his Lordship‘s

tenants, when their farms happen to be along the Firth, take in, at their

own expense, more or less land yearly, as fir trees were so plentiful, this

method of gaining land is comparatively less expensive than any other‖

(p, 103).

Interesting Facts:

To-day you will see the original embankment which was constructed 225

years ago when reclamation was completed ( which raised the land by 9

feet)

The Romans called the Forth ―Bodotria‖.

Scottish Gaelic - ―Abhainn Foirthe‖

Grangemouth was known originally as ―Sealock‖ during the

construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The settlement was then

renamed ―Grangeburnmouth‖, which refers to its position of the mouth

of the Grange Burn, which flowed into the Forth at this point.

Skinflats, formerly a Mining Village, was reputedly named by the

Dutch engineers who were at the construction of the River Forth

Embankments.

Edward Stiubhart 2012

26

Larbert House and Hospital Country Park.

Wednesday 13th June 2012

Forestry Commission Ranger Gordon Harper

With his colleague Jenny Ventham, Community Ranger

This is a follow up to last year’s walk around the park at Labert Hospital

and we noted that the amount of work that has been done in this short time

is wonderful.

The weather was good which made a very pleasant night out.

Just as you enter the park, they planned to make an orchard but that idea

had to be scrapped as there is a large water pipe running through this piece

of land. Their idea of developing an allotment has not worked out either!

They are now going to build Maggie‘s Care Home on that site with a

sensory garden adjacent to the building. I think is an excellent idea.

They have cleared the ice pond and it‘s a lot bigger than I thought. The

path which has been built goes all the way around the pond. All the paths

have been laid with Toptrek. Now the paths are much easier to get around

on foot and with wheelchairs. Where some parts are still a bit steep for the

wheelchairs, the Forestry Commission is going to try and even them out so

that wheelchair access will be a lot better.

There was a bird‘s nest at the beginning of this path on the ground and the

group were able to view this. We were also able to see a pair of Swans

swimming around with their cygnets. The water looked so clean and tidy. I

believe there must be a good stock of fish in the loch as there was a

fisherman fishing.

We next walked along to the stable block which they are meaning to make

into Mews Flats and make a similar structure behind giving the block a

double aspect. However there is a big drawback to these plans. There are 5

different bat species (Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats

which feed between the trees; Daubenton bats which like to feed over the

loch; Long-eared bats and one other bat species) roosting in the stable

block and, of coarse, they are a protected species. The land to left of the

stables has been obtained by the developers and up until now they have not

got planning permission for this piece of land.

Beyond the stables there is a walled garden which is going to be developed

into more expensive luxury homes.

27

There is a Ha Ha in the woods which the group went and looked at.

Larbert House was going to be developed into a hotel but this idea has

been dropped. The developers would like to make it into flats. They will

have to wait till they have developed some of the land and earned some

money before they can do anything with the House. I thought Larbert

House had deteriorated since last year. In front of Larbert House there was

a carpet of blue Orchids which are beautiful.

There are two counters in the park one at each entrance which count the

number of people using the park. The one at the far side of the park had

counted well over 50,000 people using the park

People are not allowed to use the entrance to the hospital as a smoking

place; they are now using the park. Around the seats in the park there are

hundreds of cigarette ends which waste the park. I hope the rangers

manage to find a way to stop the smokers dropping their cigarette ends.

We, finally, looked at the ice house which was ‗breeze blocked‘ up.

Gordon is going to drill holes in the breeze blocks in the hope that the bats

will find another home. Gordon has checked the undergrowth around the

ice house and the ornate stone that was taken from the ice house will one

day be put back on.

We are hoping to go back next year and once more we can see what is

happening to this beautiful place.

Isobel Wood

Union Canal Towpath and Avon Gorge Aqueduct

Wednesday 25th July 2012

When this was suggested to me by the members of the society, during the

boat trip on the Union Canal last year, I said to myself ―what a good idea!‖

Then it was all forgotten about until the time came along to think about

places to go for our summer program which then resurrected the idea.

Searching the internet the ―The Avon Valley Heritage Trail‖ looked

promising. It was then in the car to find the point of departure. This

proved to be a bit tricky but we eventually went into Muiravonside

Country Park. We had the good fortune to meet the Park Ranger, who was

cleaning a drain at the side of the road, at the entrance. He turned out to be

just what we were looking for - a mine of information!

28

He drew us a sketch map of the area, where to find the Avon Valley

Aqueduct and parts of the Avon Valley Heritage Trail. However he did not

recommend it due to the terrible weather we have had. There are various

attractions in the park including animal husbandry and as always a café.

We of course had to sample it and found it to be excellent, soup and a roll

for £1.60, which suited the pocket as well as the palate.

After our eats we met up with the ranger again who gave us a guided tour.

We ended up under the Aqueduct looking at the torrent of water passing

beneath the arches - very picturesque! As we continued our walk we met a

member of the Field Studies who we had not seen for a few years which

was a nice surprise. It was then to thank the ranger for his considerable

assistance and we left him, and we took stock of what would make an

interesting walk.

It took another visit to compound our findings. The Country Park would

have been interesting but it closed at 8pm which was a bit early for us. We

did decide on a program and on the night we headed for the car park at

Muiravonside Church which is on the banks of the Canal. It turned out to

be a fine night with 16 members attending. The towpath made

comparatively easy walking and we saw some interesting flora and fauna

on the banks of the canal which is in good condition considering it was

built between 1818 and 1822. On our journey we passed a canal basin.

This had been a bustling point of the Canal when it was in its hey-day. It

looks as if it has been restored recently. Another interesting item was the

dry dock area where boats had been repaired. Recently one of the boats had

been recovered by a team of archaeologists. The Avon Aqueduct was the

highlight of the evening. We walked over it, had a photo shoot, and in the

distance we saw the railway viaduct which takes the trains to Edinburgh

(two examples of Victorian engineering). Returning back over the

Aqueduct we ventured down a path, and a considerable amount of steps, to

see the wonders of Civil Engineering of the early 19th century (in the

underbelly of the Aqueduct).

It was a shame we had to return by the same route as a circular one was out

of the question due to the time factor. All together a very interesting

evening plus the weather was kind to us!

Here are some facts and figures of the Union Canal courtesy of Wikipedia:

29

Union Canal is 31.5 miles long from Lochrin Basin, Fountain Bridge

Edinburgh to Falkirk where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal now

connected by the Falkirk Wheel.

The Union Canal has many Aqueducts, the main ones being Slateford over

the Water of Leith; The Almond near Ratho; and the 810 foot long Avon

Aqueduct (the second longest in the United Kingdom).

Designed and constructed between 1818 and 1822 by Hugh Baird. Two

builders of the canal, infamous or famous take your pick, were Burke and

Hare of body snatching fame.

Built mainly for the transportation of coal and lime from Lanarkshire.

Closed to commercial traffic in the 1930‘s, now mainly used for pleasure

craft and canoe clubs.

Jack Archibald

Wednesday 8th August, 2012. Alloa Swing Bridge.

This was a change of walk from our

programme, which should have been

the (Alva Ponds) as Susan Mills, was

unable to lead due to pressure of work.

I‘m not familiar with Alva Ponds;

therefore I opted for Alloa Swing

Bridge.

Nine members met at Marshill car park

and proceeded to the West End Business Park where we started our walk

towards Longcarse Farm. We then joined the old disused Caledonian

railway to the Alloa Swing Bridge, which was constructed in 1885. On the

way we had to pass some inquisitive cattle and on arriving at the bridge we

had to move more cattle from the north abutment, so that we could view

the remains of the bridge piers that crossed the River Forth. The weather

was perfect but the midges were everywhere.

Known as the Alloa Railway, the route was double track except over its

engineering centrepiece – a bowstring girder bridge of 540 yards in length

across the Forth (structure number ALL/9) – which only accommodated a

single line. Signal boxes were located at both ends. Built by Messrs Watt

Alloa Swing Bridge

30

& Wilson of Glasgow, the first train over it – (heading south) consisted of

three carriages fitted with gas lamps and carrying about a dozen passengers.

From the south, the structure comprised 13 spans on a curve of about 43

chains radius, climbing at 1.410. Two more spans on the level were

followed by the swing bridge of 143 feet, controlled from a cabin erected

above the track and driven by a stationary steam engine. This provided two

clear openings for river craft of 61 feet either side of a pier that was

protected by a timber cutwater projecting 47 yards both up and down river.

Four further spans created a connection to the abutment on the north bank,

making 21 in total. The deck was raised 23 feet above high water level,

supported on two stone columns joined by ironwork at the top and

bottom.While still under construction, the bridge suffered damage when

the ferry steamers, ‗Princess of Wales‘, ‗Stirling Castle‘ and ‗Edinburgh

Castle‘, sailing between Granton and Stirling, collided with the structure

on numerous occasions. Then during autumnal gales in 1899 the sailing

ship ‘Stephanie‘ carrying salt from Hamburg, was driven against a pier by

the high tide (however no damage was recorded). Nevertheless, concern

grew amongst the local shipping community who had long considered the

structure to be a barrier to trade, located as it was on a part of the river

afflicted by treacherous currents. The bridges ‗evil reputation‘ even

extended to Continental ports and several tugboat owners prohibited their

vessels from passing beneath it. A committee was appointed to make

strong representations to the Caledonian Railway. The difficulties

escalated on 12th October 1904 when the schooner ‗Stirling‘ collided with

pier 17, displacing some of the girders.

Trains were not running again until 1st

June 1905. A second period of enforced

inactivity began on 15th August 1920

when HMS ‗Mallard‘, which was moored

at South Alloa Ship Breakers, broke her

moorings and crashed into the bridge

causing serious damage to piers 9, 10 and

11. (It was reported at the time in the

Alloa Advertiser that it was a surrendered German three-funnelled

Collision, 1904 ―Stirling‖

31

Zerstörer Torpedo boat). Reopening came on 1st March 1921. As a

consequence of all this, when piers 9, 10, 11, were repaired (counting piers

from the south) to complete the repairs strengthening cast iron cross

bracing was installed on all the piers.

During the line‘s final years, the

passenger service was operated by a

four-wheeled railbus, which ceased on

the 29th January 1968. Regular freight

traffic over the bridge ended on 6th May,

but trains continued to bring coal to the

engine house on the swing spans until

this was fixed in the open position on

18th May 1970. Work to lift the track got underway on 8th February 1971;

thereafter the deck sections were

dismantled.

Today the piers still stand in the river as an

evocative reminder of ―the other Forth

Bridge‖. Substantial abutments are sited on

both banks – the northern one is heavily

strapped with rail whilst the other is

affected by cracking. The abutments and

piers will eventually erode and disappear.

The ―VIC 56‖

One of the great worthies of the River Forth

was ―VIC 56‖. She was built at Faversham in

1945. Like many of the other VICs she had,

when built, an open navigation platform (the

wheelhouse was added later by the Admiralty).

The boiler was of a convertible coal / oil design,

and, presumably because of coal shortages she was completed as oil burner;

and remained until 1980. She was given a loadline certificate by Lloyds

(not necessary for naval vessels), that allowed her to trade around the

British Isles (except for the west coast of Ireland). By 1947 she was

allocated to the Victualing Store Officer at Rosyth, and so began a 30 year

HMS ―Mallard‖ Destroyer Torpedo-boat

―VIC 56‖

Collision, 1920 HMS ―Mallard‖ ―Mallard‖

32

life spent almost entirely in the Firth of Forth, taking stores and

ammunition between Rosyth, Crombie, Leith, Port Edgar, and Bandeath.

(I spent around three years from approximately the age of thirteen rowing a

boat up and down the river, and regularly viewed her sailing to and from

Bandeath).

―VIC 56‘s‖ long survival at Rosyth must be partly due to her suitability,

(as an oil burner), for carrying ammunition. In her last year her main role

was to act as occasional relief vessel for larger motor ammunition ships

which took over her routes. . Her last recorded naval steaming was on 10th

February 1975, when she was then laid up and put up for disposal. In

September 1978 she was bought for preservation, and is now docked at

Chatham Historic Dockyard. She was recently involved in the Thames

Water Pageant to celebrate the Queen‘s Diamond Jubilee.

Septimius Severus in Scotland 208- 210 AD

Two extremely rare coins were minted to celebrate the military campaign

in Scotland of Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla.

One showed a fixed bridge and the other a pontoon

bridge built on boats, and there was reference to the

rivers Forth and Tay. In 1931, prior to the discovery of

the second coin, Sir Charles Oman suggested that

Severus had built a fixed bridge near the location of

Alloa Swing Bridge and Caracalla had built a bridge at

Carpow on the Tay. John Purtell supported this

hypothesis in his presentation at a conference in the

Severus International Centre for Severus Studies on 31st May 1996 in

Rome.

The fixed bridge at Alloa is feasible, as there was a plentiful supply of

timber available, and it would open up the forest for tactical defence. (To

build a bridge and log causeway to the beachhead which ran from Cambus

to Alloa; parallel with the present A907).

Alloa Inch

Between Alloa and Cambus there were originally

three Islands in the River Forth; Alloa Inch,

Tullibody Inch and Throsk Island, which is now

Septimius Severus

Alloa Inch, centre

33

joined on to the land at Bandeath. Alloa inch was the largest of these and is

located upstream of Alloa. Historically it was called Carsie or Kersie

Island, then Longcarse or Longkerse Island, before its current name was

adopted. It is surrounded on both sides by the 3 -400 yard wide River Forth,

and although it can be reached by boat at high tide, at low tide the sides of

the river channels become an impenetrable tract of soft mud making access

extremely difficult. Originally the Inch was 42.5 acres of grazed salt marsh

that submerged to a depth of 3-6 feet by 20 foot spring tides. The

construction by Robert Drummond of Friarton, Perth in 1806, of a 1.5-mile

long 6-9 feet encircling embankment, converted 77 acres into rich arable

farmland. This enterprise was not without its difficulties, as the river over-

flowed the defences within two months of construction. Once the banks

were secured a farmhouse and steadings were built, and the Island was

farmed continuously for 170 years. Eventually however, problems with the

water supply from the mainland, and the collapse of a stretch of bank in

1983, led to the abandonment of the farm. In 1996, the Scottish Wildlife

Trust purchased the Island as a salt marsh Nature Reserve.

Although we could appreciate the beauty

of the Island on our walk to the Swing

Bridge, the midges were out in their

millions and a number of our members

were not protected by Avon Skin so Soft.

Therefore, we decided against going to

see the remains of Tullibody House and

made for home. So, ended another

memorable evening.

Eddie Stewart

.

Beware of, ―Culicoides impunctatus‖ (Carnivore Giant Midge)?

North Bridge Abutment

34

Wednesday Walk

22nd August 2012

It was not only the third change for the destination of this walk but also the

time had to be changed due to the recent inclement weather! As a

precaution I brought along a couple of torches in case the darkness came

down before we finished.

A hearty band of nine souls met up at the car-park opposite Deerpark

Primary School. We headed up a recently constructed path at the side of

the road that takes you to Gartmorn Dam, which is an asset as you don‘t

have to dodge the traffic. On reaching the Dam you veer left through a

gate onto a newly constructed path with an excellently produced indication

board. We were now on Gartmorn Farm Woodland Trails (see sign above).

Not much woodland yet but hundreds of trees have been planted over an

area of three fields. The trees will cover the whole face of Gartmorn Hill. I

can only hope it turns out as it is planned, it will take a good few years for

the woodland to reach maturity!

The first two paths form an arc to the original path, alongside the dam,

which was originally a wagon way to the coalmine at Sheriff Yards. After

35

travelling along the first two paths we are back on the original path for

approximately 500 metres. We then go through a gate and meander up the

face of the hill taking a couple of deviations en-route.

Reaching the summit of the hill, we looked over to see a wonderful

panoramic view of the dam and the surrounding area. We were really lucky

that night as it turned out quite clear and we could see for miles. We then

followed the path that takes you behind the farm - we are now going back

down hill.

Reaching the end of the new paths it was through another gate turning on

to a farm track that eventually leads on to the Fishcross / Coalsnaughton

road. Not quite as far as that, we turned left, leaving the trails into the Cow

Park Woods. We headed for the summit of Mount William and some more

spectacular views. It is a pity that some of the trees have grown so tall as

they block the view in some places. From here on it is downhill all the

way to the cars, with everyone having enjoyed the trek.

Jack Archibald

Saturday 26th May 2012, Kinnoull Hill

Kinnoull Hill (222m – 728ft)

Kinnoull Hill, a dominating feature as you drive over the Friarton Bridge

on the A90, is renowned for the quality of its walking trails through varied

woodland. It is on Perth‘s eastern doorstep, and there are various routes

beginning from each of the two car

parks up on the hill

On the day, seven CFSS members

made their way to the Fair City of

Perth. After a comfort stop at

Rodney Gardens, we ventured the

last two miles up into the Hill,

arriving at Jubilee carpark. It was

beautiful, warm day.

The itinerary for the visit allowed

36

for two walks; one to Kinnoull Tower and Viewpoint and the other to

Deuchny Hill Bronze Age Fort. After the walks, a visit to Perth Museum to

see the Bronze Age Logboat was on the agenda.

Kinnoull Hill

Woodland Park

encompasses the

hills of Kinnoull,

Corsiehill, Binn

Hill, Deuchny

Hill and Barnhill.

It is home to

mixed woodland

– from open

deciduous woods,

to the closed

canopy of

plantation

conifers. It is a

habitat for both

red and grey

squirrels, and

also roe deer and

a wide variety of birdlife, can be seen, such as Jay, Green Woodpecker,

and in winter Redwing and Fieldfare. As well as being a Local

Geodiversity Site, the hill is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest

(SSSI) with areas of unique vegetation, including remnants of lowland

heath and interesting plants such as the Northern Marsh Orchid

Our first walk to Kinnoull Tower took us up round the eastern side of the

hill with a steady incline to the summit (728 ft.). We kept a sharp lookout

for the various wood sculptures en route, and I think we found four out of

ten; we also took in the magnificent views along the Tay valley towards

Dundee. We glimpsed the old observatory on Binn Hill built by Charles,

14th Lord Gray around 1813, although the trees did obscure it slightly.

Eventually we reached the Tower, a folly built by the 9th Earl of Kinnoull,

and here we took a well-earned rest to enjoy the views. We then walked up

37

to the Viewpoint where a location point giving directions and distance to

various landmarks is situated. Also sited here is a Triangulation Point.

After another rest we retraced our steps back to the Tower and via a path

on the left walked down through the middle of the hill to the carpark,

where we had lunch.

After lunch we made a group decision not to do the second walk to

Deuchny Hill Bronze Fort, but to make for Perth Museum. (I was relieved)

Prior to making our way to the Museum, we had a leisurely stroll around

the Arboretum, which was adjacent to the carpark. (James Aitken, a well-

known Perth landscape gardener and lover of trees, lived at Orchardbank

next to Branklyn Gardens. He left a bequest o £80,000 to Perth and

Kinross Council Countryside Trust to reinstate the original Arboretum.)

We concluded the day at the Museum where we saw one of the River

Tay‘s ancient watercraft; the Bronze Age Carpow Logboat found near

Abernethy. The craft measures 9.25 (30ft) metres long and is made from a

single piece of oak tree cut through the middle lengthwise and carved out

inside. The bow was shaped to enable it to cut through the water, and the

stern or transom was grooved out with a transom board fitted and wedged

© Copyright. Reproduced by kind permission, Perth & Kinross Council

© Copyright. Reproduced by kind permission, Perth & Kinross Council

38

in place with a 75mm x 1 metre (3 inch x 3ft 6

inch pole. It was probably lined round the

inside edge with clay to keep it watertight.

The Logboat has gone through a drip-drying

conservation process at the Museum of

Scotland‘s conservation centre at Granton,

Edinburgh. It will be on exhibition until

January 2013 in Perth.

I would like to thank very sincerely, David

Strachan of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust,

and Perth and Kinross Countryside Rangers

Ian Moncrieff and Fergus Cook, for their

assistance. Fergus gave a guided tour around the hill in March 2012 while I

was reconnoitring the walk. My thanks also to Jack and Sadie Archibald

and to Eleanor my wife, who accompanied me on the reconnaissance; it

made the day a joy.

Eddie Stewart

The Highland Chocolatier, Cluny House Gardens

The Scottish Crannog Centre

C.F.S.S. Outing Saturday 23rd June 2012

This was a trip to Central Perthshire sampling the eats, gardens and history.

On a fair morning we left Marshill Carpark with the knowledge, through

the grapevine, that the sun was splitting the trees in Aberfeldy. Fourteen

members headed for Kinross, with another four leaving from Tillicoultry,

where we joined the M90 to Broxden roundabout on the outskirts of Perth.

From there we joined the A9 to the Ballinluig interchange, and headed

along the A830 to Grandtully, the home of The Highland Chocolatier (Iain

Burnett) our first stop.

This was both a coffee stop and an opportunity to have a headcount to

check no one had gone astray. We adjourned to the Legends Café where

we all enjoyed coffee, scones and cakes which were very tasty. We then

39

browsed round the gift shop and had a look at the processes of the art of

making chocolate. I can‘t say if many of us tasted and bought the goodies

that were on sale - I didn‘t, the prices put me off!

It was then on to our next port of call, Cluny House Gardens, to feast our

eyes on the myriad of flower and shrubs of the woodland garden. Not

forgetting the giant Sequioas, one being a champion of 11 metres girth. On

arrival we were given a short introductory talk by the owner of the garden,

Wendy Mattingley. What a tremendous job she and her husband have

achieved, looking after the garden which was created by her late father.

The paths were well laid out and kept in a good state of repair. This was

quite a feat as the garden is laid out on the side of a hill.

Every corner you turn you see something different, whether it is shrubs

trees or flowers. The layout is perfect. The garden included Japanese

Maples, Rhododendrons, Birches and a selection of Conifers. Lying

underneath are some very exotic plants. You could see Himalayan Lillies

growing to a height of 4 metres. When I first saw them on a visit to the

gardens, two years ago, I was amazed that a plant could grow to such a

height. It was a pity that we were a bit early in the season to see them in

their full bloom.

However there were plenty more to see. Himalayan Poppies with their

lovely shade of blue, a mass of Primula Candelabra, Wood Lillies,

Trilliums, Chilean Flame Flower, and a host of others. It is a garden of all

seasons and no matter when you visit you will see something different in

bloom. While having our picnic lunch in the gardens we were entertained

by the local wildlife, mainly the red squirrels that were also enjoying their

lunch of special nuts laid out by Wendy. The weather remained fair

throughout, which was unexpected, as we had been expecting to have to

take advantage of the emergency arrangements organized by Isobel Wood.

Fed and watered we made our way to the Scottish Crannog Centre at

Kenmore on Loch Tay. Leaving the Garden we headed for Aberfeldy. We

travelled over the General Wade Bridge. This is a relic from the pre-1745

Rebellion period and still in use today. The traffic lights however are of the

modern era!

40

On arrival at the Crannog Centre it was a case of getting ourselves

organized, at the reception area, before heading out to the house. This is

built on piles and stands in the Loch. To get there we had to negotiate a

bridge made of logs - not the easiest things to walk on! After that we were

shown in by the guide and, sitting comfortably, were given a

comprehensive talk on the building of the house and its construction. This

included a description of all the different sections of the inside plan, from

where the animals were kept and the food was stored - even including the

sleeping area for the children. There was a fire burning on a stone slab in

the middle of the house. It was amazing how warm it was as it was only

timber wattling on the walls with space in between, and quite dark when

the doors were closed. I really admired the thatching on the roof.

Once the talk was completed we were taken outside to a workshop area

where we were shown and given a demonstration on various types of wood

lathes. Next we were shown how to bore a hole in a stone using a piece of

hazel and a bow. This is quite an operation - he did say it took a number of

hours to complete! Finally the demonstration everyone wanted to see,

making fire without using Swan Vesta or a Ronson Lighter. Unfortunately

we saw lots of smoke but no fire. The same principles were applied as for

boring the hole in the stone. This time a bow and a spindle is used into a

piece of wood, with necessary tinder to ignite the flame.

Well it was time to be homeward bound after a very enjoyable time here.

We returned to Aberfeldy and then headed for Amulree and the Sma Glen.

Then onto Crieff, Gleneagles, Glendevon and home. The drive home

through such lovely scenery was a perfect end to the day.

Jack Archibald.

41

Saturday 28th July 2012, Bits and Bobs OF Loch Leven Circuit

Eleven members made their way to Portmoak Church via Kinross and

Milnathort, and onto the A911 Burleigh road, passing Burleigh Castle, the

ancestral home of the Balfour of Burleigh family and then the Orwell

Standing Stones (megaliths which are still shrouded in mystery). We

journeyed on past Powmill Waterwheel (old meal mill, now a modern

home) and through Kinnesswood

(where Michael Bruce, the gentle

poet of Loch Leven was born and

died) to arrive at Portmoak

Church where we parked the cars,

and met up with Eric and Kay

Howman.

The first walk was part of the

Michael Bruce Way. Yes part way; we were omitting the high part due to it

being very steep and muddy. We took the low road, walking along the

footpath that runs parallel with the main road, back towards Kinnesswood

and the Bishops Hill Golf Club. We then crossed the road and made

towards Grahamstone Farm. After 4-500 metres we took a short grass path

to Portmoak Moss. During this part of the walk our ears were assaulted by

the noisy gaggling from geese (pink footed, Greylag or White Fronted.)

They form around 10% of the world population and come from their

breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland to Loch Leven, which is the

largest loch in lowland Scotland. We continued till we came to the Moss

Bog, which has evolved from the Ice Age. In the Middle Ages, Portmoak

was part of a much larger uncultivated woodland, which provided peat, turf

and pasture for the local communities at Kinnesswood and Scotlandwell.

From the 17th to 20th centuries local residents had the right to cut peat for

fuel, and the legacy of that activity is a vertical wall of peat, up to 2.5

metres high with a depth of around 6 metres. Continued peat growth has

elevated the bog surface to form a gently curving dome from which the

term ‗raised bog‘ is derived. Portmoak is of great conservation value as a

raised bog habitat, and is currently undergoing restoration by the

Woodland Trust and the local community. Eight varieties of Sphagnum

moss and a variety of birds and animals (in particular red squirrels) share

the habitat.

42

After a short walk we arrived at Scotlandwell (Fons Scotia), and made our

way to Friar Place, where within an iron enclosure are buried the wife,

mother and a number of children of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, minister of

Portmoak from 1703 to 1731, and father of the Secession Church. The

name ‗Fons Scotia‘ dates back to the Roman period. A hospital was

established here in the 13th century, (on the site of an early Celtic

foundation), by David de Bernham. This was gifted to the Red Friars, and

the hospital and village became a centre of pilgrimage, with the Friars

using the spring water to cure an assortment of diseases. It is alleged that

King Robert the Bruce, who came there, was cured from leprosy. We then

visited the Well and Washhouse. The waters (curative) percolate up

through the rocks and fine white sand, and are still used today. (However, a

disclaimer sign is on display with regard to the curative properties). In

1882 a small piece of common ground known locally as the Peat Hill, was

divided up amongst the feuars of the village, including the spot where the

well now stands. Thomas Bruce of Arnot, who

eventually acquired all the land, decided to

beautify the village by landscaping the site. In

March 1857, the distinguished Edinburgh architect

David Bryce prepared the plan for an ornamental

fountain or well. (He is best known for Fettes

College and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary). He not only designed the well

but also the stylish washhouse opposite, using stone from the quarries at

Greenhead of Arnot and Nivingston near Cleish. The well was completed

in 1856 at a cost of £153. The death of Thomas Bruce‘s wife Henrietta

during the construction turned the project into a

labour of love and also into a memorial. On

either side of the waterspout in front of the well

are the embossed initials TBA (Thomas Bruce

of Arnot) and HD (Henrietta Dorin). The

people of Scotlandwell are concerned today

about the state of the historic well and

washhouse, as both are in need of repair.

The well needs minor structural repairs

and also cleaned out, and the washhouse is

urgently in need of renovation.

Leaving the well we walked back up

43

through the village to Portmoak Church. This is the third church at the site.

The first was dedicated to St Stephan and the second to St Moak (situated

initially where the Scottish Gliding Centre now is). The present church was

built in 1832. Since 1564, 29 incumbents have ministered at Portmoak;

there was a four-year vacancy from 1731 however. The present incumbent

is Dr. Angus Morrison, who arrived in 2011. The most celebrated

incumbent was Ebenezer Erskine (1703-1731), who left the Church of

Scotland, after becoming disillusioned. He became one of the first

ministers of the Secession Church, which eventually became known as the

United Presbyterian Church (UPC).

The Portmoak Stone, a fragment of a cross slab stone was

found by Professor David Munro in 1976, at the site of the

early chapel which is located within the Scottish Gliding

Centre Airfield. This stone is now set into the east wall of

the Portmoak Church. It may date to the 10th century or

earlier. There is a bell which is dated 1642 and which one

could speculate is also from the old Chapel. The Church

Plate is very interesting, one from the UPC Balgedie

communion cups, and a communion cup from the Free

Church which broke away from the Church of Scotland over the issue of

the rights of the heritor. Both cups are still in use in the church today.

Situated within the churchyard is the memorial to Michael

Bruce 1746-67 who packed a lot into his short life. First

and foremost he was a Poet affectionately known as, ―The

gentle poet of Loch Leven‖. Michael was however

potentially destined for the ministry. He was a member of

the Secession Church and after University at Edinburgh,

as part of his church training he was placed as a school

teacher, first at Gairney Bank, Kinross, then at Forest Mill, Clackmannan.

He also tutored at Kennet House, the children of Robert

Bruce, Lord Kennet.

Whilst at Forest Mill he became seriously ill and

subsequently walked back home to Kinnesswood, where he

eventually died on the 5th July 1767. The weaver‘s cottage

where he was born has been preserved as a Museum to his

memory.

44

“Hail, native land! Where on the

Flow’ry banks of Leven

Beauty, every-blooming, dwells’

Once again the Society takes this opportunity to thank very sincerely Mr

Harry McLennan for opening the church for our visit. This was very much

appreciated by all present on the day.

Due to another commitment Jack Archibald had to leave the rest of the

walk prior to lunch.

The rest of us got back into our cars to go for lunch at Lochend Farm! Just

in time as a heavy shower of rain came tumbling down.

After an enjoyable lunch, we then journeyed by car a few miles to Findatie

where we parked the cars for another short walk. We walked down the path

to the Sluice Gates which are over the River Leven at the head of the Loch.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the

demand for food from a growing population

encouraged landowners and farmers to seek

new ways to increase production. The Kinross

Estate and neighbouring landowners decided

that by lowering the water in the Loch by 1.4

metres (4½ feet) they could increase land

available for farming by some 1100 acres.

This could be achieved by cutting a new deeper channel for the River

Leven and controlling its flow by sluices. Mill owners and industrialists

downstream were persuaded to help finance the scheme as they would

benefit from a more regular water flow all year round. An Act of

Parliament (the Leven Improvement Act, 1827) allowed the digging of the

four mile cut from Findatie where the River Leven flows from the loch to

Auchmuirbridge.

Leaving the sluice gates, we walked to the new footbridge (towards

Levenmouth Farm) over the river, and standing centre of the bridge got a

good view of the canalised cutting. We then retraced our steps and walked

the 1.5 km towards RSPB Vane Farm. On the way we arrived at Findatie

beach, and lingered for 5-10 minutes. The view from there looking over to

St Serf‘s Island, where there are the remains of a Culdee Chapel, is

beautiful. Walking along the path towards Vane Farm there are incredible

360 degree views of the landscape. Prior to reaching the farm we had to

45

fasten up our coats as rain began to fall, but it was not heavy and we

arrived at the Centre relatively dry. We spent around 45 minutes at Vane

Farm; it was a welcome comfort stop and the shop contained many

interesting items. While most browsed, the drivers were shuttled back to

Findatie to collect their cars, and then returned to collect their passengers

before proceeding to the final stop of the day. As we made our way to the

Secession Church Monument at Gairney Bank the rain was very heavy, but

fortunately it stopped as we arrived.

On 6th December 1733, Ebenezer Erskine of Stirling,

William Wilson of Perth, Alexander Moncrieff of

Abernethy and James Fisher of Kinclaven, signed an Act

OF Secession during a meeting in a small house at Gairney

Bank. The monument marks the spot

Directly across from where the Secession Monument now

stands, was the site of Gairney Bank where Michael Bruce took up his first

charge in teaching at the age of 19 years, after his studies in Edinburgh

(1762-1765). Michael was taught to read before he was 4 years old, and

one of his favourite books was a copy of one of the works of Sir David

Lindsay of the Mount, a poet of the 16th century and a ‗familiar‘ of the

Courts of James 1V and James V. Michael‘s attendance at school was

often interrupted because he had to herd cattle on the Lomond hills in

summer, but his early companionship with nature greatly influenced his

poetry.

A Note on the Establishment of the Secession Church 1733

The Patronage Act of 1712 gave the local Laird (or landowner) the right to

appoint the minister of his parish. This went against the tenets of the

Presbyterian system that had established from the time of the Reformation

the right of elders representing the congregation to make such

appointments. By 1733, such was the ill feeling, that many (secessionists)

under the leadership of Ebenezer Erskine, broke away from the Established

Church.

Ebenezer Erskine born 22nd June 1680, died 2nd June 1754

He had been described as an Evangelical Divine, and was of the Rev.

Henry Erskine (1624-1696), who was descended from the Earls of Mar.

Henry Erskine was removed from his charge following the Act of

Uniformity (1662), and imprisoned on the Bass Rock for Nonconformity.

46

Ebenezer‘s wife‘s ancestors were from Orkney and could trace their

ancestry back to Halcro, Prince of Denmark. Her great-grandmother was

Lady Barbara Stuart, daughter of Robert, Earl of Orkney, natural son of

James V of Scotland. Ebenezer was educated at Edinburgh University and

ordained at Portmoak, and ministered there successfully for 28 years,

proving to be a popular preacher. He supported Thomas Boston (1676-

1732) and the evangelical work ‗The Marrow of Modern Divinity‘, which

had been condemned by the General Assembly. He transferred to Stirling

in 1731, but continued to speak out against liberalism in the Church and

the system of Patronage. In 1733 these views led to his suspension by the

General Assembly, and he and three others then proceeded to form an

Associated Presbytery which quickly became the Secession Church.

Although this church grew, it was itself divided over the Burgess Oath

(into the Burghers and Anti-Burghers), with Erskine remaining with the

Burgher majority. He died in Stirling having made his mark on the Church

and having fathered fifteen children.

Edward Stiubhart 2012

Visit to the Glasgow Necropolis

Saturday 25th August 2012

As a follow up to Nigel Willis‘s talk (on 26th March 2012) a group of 14

members plus 1 guest partook on a pilgrimage to see the Necropolis in the

raw.

We met at Alloa Railway Station and travelled to Glasgow letting the train

take the strain. Arriving at Queen Street Station, we got ourselves sorted

out. Some decided to walk to the Cathedral/Necropolis and others opted for

a taxi. Eventually we met up again some having gone to the Cathedral

whilst others looked round the St. Mungo‘s Museum of Religious Life and

Art. Sometime or other everyone had refreshments in the Café!

Time to get together again and we met Nigel at the Gatehouse of the

Necropolis at 12 noon. Everyone arrived on time which was good. On our

way in we passed the main gates. This is an elaborate construction from the

47

beginning of the Necropolis and was recently restored by The Friends of

the Glasgow Necropolis at a cost of £14,000 - quite a substantial sum of

money!

After a preliminary talk on various aspects of the cemetery and health &

safety we were off on our travels. The first landmark was the Bridge of

Sighs - no river now, but a road way as the burn has been piped in.

Next point of interest was the Merchant House vault. This is carved into

the hillside and originally was to be something of great importance.

However they had a roof cave in and it was then relegated to being a

storage place for coffins, now a garage for the lawnmowers.

We then travelled the lower levels of the hill, Nigel pointing out various

headstones of various sizes, shapes and symbolisms. Prominent among

them was the broken column symbolizing a person who had died before

they had reached the age of three score years and ten.

We then reached the Jewish part of the Necropolis which is one of the

oldest. It all came about in the 1830‘s when there was an influx of Jews

from Eastern Europe. The nearest Jewish Cemetery was in Edinburgh. As

Jewish people prefer to be buried the same day as they die it was

impossible to uphold that tradition. At that time it took 2 days by horse

and cart and/or 4 days by canal. The Jewish Community approached the

Merchants House for a piece of land at Fir Park, the original name of the

Necropolis. We did see the original entrance and the first headstone to a

Jewish jeweller from Glasgow.

From there it was a climb up the hill, deviating from the path sometimes to

see gems of headstones. The further we went up the stones became more

elaborate and there were numerous family mausoleums, some very ornate.

We then came across the mausoleum for the Buchanan Sisters who were

19th Century philanthropists. The three sisters all remained unwed

throughout their lives and were renowned for their charitable works. They

had the mausoleum built before they died to make sure everything was in

order for the afterlife. At the present moment it is the Friends Project to

restore the mausoleum which had been vandalised. Not far from there we

48

were shown a mausoleum where only recently a visitor sheltering from the

rain discovered a species of a spider which had never been found in Britain

before. Apparently they are normally only found in Russia and North

America, I believe the gentleman involved was an avid spider watcher. It

is amazing what you find in a cemetery.

As we went on the headstones and mausoleums got more elaborate. It

made me think that there must be a lot of money made from death!

On reaching the summit, there it was in all his glory, the statue of John

Knox. He died a good bit before the Necropolis was even thought of. The

headstones seemed to be never ending with so many different themes and

grave stone markings I had never seen before. However there was one that

took my eye which was a serpent eating its tail. The last time I saw this

was when we visited a church in Northumberland, during a visit to

Hadrian‘s Wall. That was with the Field Studies of course. Nigel was able

to tell me that it meant everlasting life.

Another part of the Necropolis we visited was an area where there were no

stones at all. We were informed there were fifty thousand bodies buried

there. They are all planted in rows of six deep. It was hard to imagine and

they are all documented. These were the people of Glasgow who could not

afford a stone, amazing!

Now we were on our way back down the hill seeing more styles and

symbols which was all very interesting. The whole area is kept in good

condition with the grass being cut regularly and the weeds kept to a

minimum. In the days of cut backs it is a difficult job. The Friends of

Glasgow Necropolis have done a great job of being an extra guardian of

the area. In the past it has been plagued with vandalism, which we saw to

our horror.

Nigel did a great job showing us around, he is a wealth of information.

One of the last stones we saw was the resting place of his grandfather and

great grandfather.

49

From then on it was a case of walking back to the Gatehouse where we

gave him a big thank you and a donation, which will go to the restoration

of Buchanan Sisters Mausoleum. I don‘t know who we have to thank for

the fantastic weather we had but for the two and a bit hours we spent

trekking round the Necropolis it was shirt sleeves order all the way. We

were hoping to visit the Cathedral at this point but Strathclyde Fire and

Rescue were having a memorial service for lost comrades.

From there we went our separate ways to find somewhere to eat and all

met up again at Queen Street Station for the journey home, rather wabbit

and wet as the weather had changed rather dramatically for the walk back.

Jack Archibald

P.S

I have since had an e-mail from Nigel which reads: ―Just a quick note to

thank you very much for the generous donation cheque from C.F.S.S group

who came on tour to-day. We were very lucky with the weather and it was

good to meet you all again‖.

Nigel Willis (Deputy Chairperson Friends of Glasgow Necropolis).

http://www.glasgownecropolis.org Their website well worth a look.

J.A.

50

Extract from the Society’s Newsletter

41 Years Ago

VOL 1. No 2 March 1971.

Council Notes

To date the many Society activities have been very successful and there are sixty

members. It will be a while, however, before one can say that the proving period

is past during which time the scope of Society activities must be delimited and the

responses and wishes of members stimulated and assessed. There have already

been enough research and conservation projects suggested to last for a lifetime

from those members who intend to devote more time to Society activities. But, at

the other extreme those who wish to be more casual members have given no

indications of their opinions. They are seriously invited.

It would also be a good sign if more members inquired about, or especially joined

in the informal activities, if only periodically. Linn Mill, in particular, is tired of

the same old faces and greater numbers would ensure the conclusion of phase 1

excavations in the near future.

For the purposes of contributing to this Newsletter, activities reported need not be

under the auspices of the Society.

Volunteers are called for to take part in the County Footpath Survey being carried

out by the County Planning Department as a preliminary to making countryside

development plans. They will be asked to report on the disposition of known

footpaths. Further details from the County Planning Department, Marshill House,

Alloa. (2160)

At this stage it is to be reported that the farewell trip by train across South Alloa

Bridge to Throsk has been cancelled by British Rail who cannot secure necessary

insurance cover.

With the increasing amount of demolition and redevelopment taking place there is

a danger of important sites being obliterated without proper investigation as was

threatened at the Rack Mill Weir. The Society Council have stressed the need for

a vigilante function in the Society with prompt reporting of all relevant proposals

acted by any member. In certain cases the sites may need protection permanently,

in others only until they have been fully recorded. In the manner recommended by

the Council for British Archaeology, Murray Dickie has the basis of a site index

recording system which is always amenable to enlargement or to embellishment

with full descriptions.

The Society is experiencing the same problems today.

Therefore, we would like to extend a very cordial welcome to any member

who could assist, to come on to the COMMITTEE.

CLACKMANNANSHIRE

FIELD STUDIES SOCIETY

The CFSS was formed in October 1970 after attempting to

revive the Alloa Society of Natural Science and Archaeology established in 1863.

The society‘s aims are ―to promote interest in the environment and heritage of the

local area‖ and it has some 130 members.

In winter there are fortnightly lectures or members nights, from September to April,

beginning with a coffee morning and concluding with our AGM in May. In summer,

from April to September, there are four Saturday outings, a weekend event and

Wednesday Evening Walks fortnightly from April to August.

CFSS has run and participated in various events on David Allan and at Alloa Tower,

is associated with the Forth Naturalist and Historian in publishing, and with the annual

Man and the Landscape symposium, which is reported on in the Spring Newsletter.

Research projects have included- Linn Mill, Mining, and Alloa Harbour; these have

been published as booklets Linn Mill, Mines and Minerals of the Ochils, and Alloa

Port, Ships and Shipbuilding. A recent project is Old Alloa Kirkyard, Archaeological

Survey 1996 – 2000 further work is in progress. Other publications include David

Allan, The Ochil Hills – landscape, wildlife, heritage walks; Alloa Tower and the

Erskines of Mar; and the twice yearly Newsletter – October 2012 is no. 89, and there

are 5 yearly contents/indices.

Three local walks have been published – ―Memento Mori‖ - a guide to Alloa Old

Kirkyard, ―Alloa West Walk‖ – 19th

C development, Alloa East Walk – from Alloa

Tower includes part of former Mar & Kellie Estate and Alloa Harbour.

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in, or desire to support the aims of the

society in this field of Local Studies.

The society has a study / council room in Marshill House, Alloa. This has a small

collection of books, maps etc. which members are encouraged to use for reference or

study.

Contacts:- CFSS Chair, E. Stewart (tel: (01259) 216878)

or view http://www.cfss.org.uk