Bracklinn Falls walk and Callander Crags
Please
note that due to flood damage the bridge at the falls is currently out of use!
Description About 4 miles.
Fairly energetic, stout footwear recommended
Start at Bracklinn Road Carpark - Bracklinn Rd.
This walk is a mixture of woodland and crag-top walking, and includes a visit to some
waterfalls. This route is not suitable for walkers with small children or dogs .
From Callander Crags which overlook the town there are good views of the mountains to the north and west and over Callander and the Trossachs towards Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond, as well as towards Doune and Stirling.
Directions
At the East end of Callander, walk/drive up Bracklinn Rd for about 1/4 mile, pass a car park on your left, then up a steep hill to the Bracklinn Falls carpark on the right. At the car park, turn along the path to the Falls. At first the view to the right is hidden by trees, but it soon opens up and the main road can be seen crossing the level plain towards Doune.The line of the old Dunblane to Oban rail line can also be seen.
Follow the signs and descend to the Falls (A), crossing them by the footbridge - keep the kids on a lead at this point!.
The bridge was washed away in a storm in 2006 (along with 6 other bridges over this same river). A new bridge is now planned. Until the bridge is replaced you will have to stop here unless the river is very low. If the water level is low enough, walk upstream and beyond the last waterfall the water is often low enough to rockhop or wade over. If you can cross over then continue below.
Bear left after crossing the river and find a path which follows the river
upstream then rises steeply to the woods and onto a track which curves around the hill.
Ben Ledi and Ben Lomond beyond the Trossachs are seen to the west.
Don't take any right turns - you'll get lost! After a half mile or so the forest
track now drops down left to cross Keltie Water (D). Here is another waterfall and deep pool
(Scouts pool) below the bridge . Climb the path up the other side of the bridge and walk
up the track to the public road then turn left for nearly a mile.
As you walk
down this quiet lane, watch for a path on the right marked Callander Crags
(just past telephone pole number 34). This climbs steeply up through awkward paths in
scrubby woodland then open ground to the ridge.
At the top is the cairn (F) built to
commemorate Queen Victorias Jubilee and restored in 2000. This affords a magnificent
view to Ben Ledi, Ben Lomond beyond the Trossachs and to the peaks of Ben Vorlich
and Stuc a Chroin on the north side. To the south-east are Stirling Castle and the
Wallace Monument with the Ochil Hills beyond.
The path descends after the cairn, and immediately after a scramble to a small bridge.
(Option 1) Turn left off the main path down steps through the trees. There are about 80 rough steps then a forest
track. Turn left where the track meets the forestry road just past a waymark post and
follow to the public road. Bracklinn falls carpark is up the hill to the left or
turn right to return to Callander.
(Option 2, adding about 2 miles) Back at the bridge on the ridge, this
walk may be extended by continuing along the ridge and through the trees (very dangerous
drops to the left through the trees) and then decending steeply on a built
up gravel path to the west end of Callander. This unfortunately means walking back through
the town or preferably the lower crags walk to get your car
. 
Looking west from the Crags .......................................................Bracklinn Falls
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