The longest river in Stirlingshire is the Carron which rises in the Campsie Fells and enters the Firth of Forth at Grangemouth. As it passes through the Falkirk area, a waymarked trail can be followed. I had tried to sign up for an organised walk here about a year ago but all places were taken. It had lingered on my to-do list since then as a local jaunt I could undertake, given a few spare hours. The opportunity presented itself on a bright Sunday in late February when Nicole was otherwise engaged. I set of just before lunch time, knowing I could complete my mission before the light dimmed.
I parked at the site of the old Carron Ironworks. The foundry became a key player in the British industrial revolution. Established in 1759, the Carron Company hit serious paydirt in the early 1800s, casting short-range naval cannons which were used by British forces and proved highly effective at close quarters. These guns were known as carronades. By 1814, Carron was the largest ironworks in Europe and remained a household name into the next century, producing iconic red phone and pillar boxes. You can often see the inscription "Carron Company - Stirlingshire" when posting a letter today. The firm eventually folded in 1982 and was partly acquired by new owners Carron Phoenix. This operation ceased a few years ago leaving the famous Falkirk foundry site derelict. The clock tower at the entrance still stands (with carronades on display) and a short walk around the perimeter reveals another fascinating monument to the industrial past. After passing a redundant rail bridge over the River Carron, the grand Grahamston Gates come into view. Weighing 20 tons and measuring 26 by 20 feet, they were said to be the biggest iron gates in the world, designed and cast at Falkirk's Grahamston Foundry. They were exhibited at the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art in Edinburgh. Returning home, the gates stood outside the Grahamston plant until its closure at the turn of the 21st century. Fortunately Carron Phoenix had the foresight to restore the structure and transplant it to their premises where it proudly stands today as a reminder of the local iron industry.
Before starting the river trail, I wanted to visit Carron Dams nature reserve. Tucked away between industrial and residential areas, this quiet haven is owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and occupies the site of a partially-drained reservoir which served the ironworks. A circular trail has been created with three joining points. The sun was falling on the pond as I took this picture. A nice enough view I thought. I didn't really expect it to soar past 500 likes on Instagram! I could hear birdsong and saw magpies and great tits. Nothing special, but a pleasant walk and not too muddy considering there had been heavy rainfall for days beforehand. I had worn my walking shoes rather than pulling on the heavy duty boots as I reckoned I would be sticking mainly to decent paths. I got away with that one, but it was close at times. I jumped off the trail three quarters of the way round and walked down to the river. Nearby is the Carronbridge Inn, once visited by Robert Burns. The bard dropped in for breakfast in 1787 and inscribed a few lines of verse on a window. Unfortunately the pane was later blown to smithereens during a wild storm. I picked up the trail and initially found myself on a tarred cycle route. I was brought to an abrupt halt when confronted with a newly-formed lake. Obviously the sustained downpour had been severe. I picked my way through the trees to the actual river path. At least I'm on the right trail now, I thought. Until this walkway gave way to the scene pictured below.
Back across to the cycle route then! The two paths converge in any case and skirt a housing scheme before entering woodland. I had to ford the pavement as there was so much water spilling off the adjacent field. Everything was well signposted and I headed for The Kelpies - iconic steel sculptures of the Celtic water spirits. They take the form of a horse and the structures have proved immensely popular since being introduced to the public. People come from far and wide to view them and enjoy the wider leisure facilities of Helix Park. The Kelpies stand at the point where the Forth & Clyde Canal meets the Carron en route to the nearby Firth of Forth. The watercourse was opened in 1790 and now carries recreational traffic. The entire 35-mile route can be walked or cycled and The Kelpies provide a focal point, as does the Falkirk Wheel which straddles the intersection with the Edinburgh-bound Union Canal. I had noticed on Google Maps that a couple of additional art installations would feature on today's route. The Human Sun Clock is an elaborate sundial that tells the time by shadow when someone stands on the place marker. Further along was a modern sculpture entitled Love & Kisses.
Over to creator Jephson Robb: "The sculpture has been designed as a scar. In other words, a healed wound. But when viewed from certain vantage points it takes the form of a heart and when examined from above, it resembles a pair of lips. The shapes contained within the sculpture have therefore informed the title of the piece, Love and Kisses". I can see where he's coming from but couldn't help thinking the artwork resembled a large squashed turnip. People on my Facebook wall did indeed confirm the heart, lips and tongue theories. It obviously means various things to different folk. On the final push, one of the horses' heads hove into view and the marina landscape opened up in front of me. The old sea lock at the River Carron is now permanently closed and boats can continue under the M9 along a new stretch of waterway known as the Queen Elizabeth Canal, which merges with the river mouth half a mile further downstream. The extension was built to allow boats an easier passage to the Forth by cutting out the troublesome bridge carrying the A905 over the canal. The new stretch also provides an informative walk named the Charlotte Dundas Heritage Trail. William Symington launched the first craft here that demonstrated the practicality of steam power for ships.
I had been to the Kelpies many times before. It is a favourite place for us to take guests, particularly in the evening when the traffic has died down. It doesn't cost anything to view the steel horses and everyone so far has been impressed with the sheer scale of the sculptures. There is a café and visitors centre open during the day and I decided to push on a little further to check out Helix Park. This includes a performance area on which large-scale events can be held and facilities for water sports provided by a large lagoon. All surrounded by play areas and high quality pathways. There were a few ducks in attendance but nothing to write home about. The purpose-built Falkirk football stadium is a short distance away and home to both Falkirk FC and East Stirlingshire. I still haven't attended a game there although I saw East Stirling many times at their old ground in Falkirk town centre - now sadly an overgrown ruin. Falkirk FC also moved from a traditional urban terraced arena, known as Brockville. I almost went to see the Scottish Women's side at the new stadium but changed my mind. I lived to regret that decision as it was the night the ladies qualified for the World Cup. Helix park seemed more suited to families and I returned to the Kelpies. The exhibition inside the visitor centre was in the process of being updated and I began the walk back to the car.
There was finally some decent birdie action on the return trek. A male and female goosander were swimming together in the Carron. I witnessed the amusing spectacle of a second male repeatedly being chased away every time he approached the pair. The light happened to fall upon the ducks as I took some nice photos. The female garnered the most attention on Instagram, probably on account of her punky hairdo. It was good to blow a few cobwebs away after an enforced spell indoors due to the inclement weather. As expected, there were many others out doing the same thing. I couldn't live without my regular excursions on foot and it's a healthy way to appreciate what's on your doorstep and further afield. You always learn something new.
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