Darn Walk (2.5 miles)
The pleasant small towns of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane lie just a couple of miles apart on either side of the Stirlingshire and Perthshire boundary. They are linked by a riverside trail known as Darn Walk. Head up Blairforkie Drive (close to the railway station) in Bridge of Allan and look for a signed path on your left after 450 yards. This leads down to the Allan Water and we proceed upstream. The route is a fairly obvious one and comes close to the water's edge in several places.
We drop down into a little stepped gully which has a bridge over a tributary before once more climbing up the Allan bank. A shallow cave is encountered which once apparently fascinated a young Robert Louis Stevenson who spent many a childhood holiday in the area. Make sure you ignore the next bridge (a solid concrete construction) and remain on the same side of the water. Do however cross the following wooden bridge and then ascend a narrow stony passage between two walls. A short stretch of open countryside is traversed and a sign warns us we are now joining Dunblane Golf Course. Skirt the edge for a couple of hundred yards then branch off. A short section of path brings us to the dual carriageway that now diverts traffic away from the High Street. The speed limit is just 20mph therefore it's easy to cross over. Take a wander into the historic town centre and marvel at the cathedral. You can retrace the 2.5 miles to Bridge of Allan but a good alternative is the train which whisks you back in a few minutes.
