Photographs, route description and map of a circular ascent of Carleatheran in the Gargunnock Hills

Location: Gargunnock, near Stirling
Map: OS Landranger 65 ( GR868919 )
Distance: 12.5miles ( 20km )
Time: 5 hours
Terrain: tracks and paths

Despite its length, this walk isn't too taxing since most of the route is on tracks. These are less well defined in the ﬁrst half of the walk than the second, allowing you to concentrate on the route when you're fresh, and relax into "auto pilot" as you tire.
Beyond the Campsie Fells the high ground continues north-east to Stirling with a variety of hill names despite there being few deﬁning features to clearly separate the areas. The Fintry Hills lie at the western end above the village of Fintry and the Touch Hills at the eastern end above the Georgian mansion, Touch House, while the Gargunnock Hills ﬁll the central area over Gargunnock village and the Forth plain.
Carleatheran is the highest point in the Gargunnock Hills and while it's not the highest point overall ( that is Stronend above Fintry ) it's probably the finer of the two with views north to the highland giants and east to Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the Ochils.
The route starts from the minor road running along the northern flanks of the range. A small parking area can he found on the right at a bridge and stone pillared entrance about 300m beyond the track to Ballochleam.
Walk back to Ballochleam, follow the track past the farm and keep right to ascend the front of the escarpment to the lip and the Spout of Ballochleam. Continue for about 350m past a grassy track on the left to a second one and follow this towards Lees Hill.
Beyond Lees Hill the track divides but joins again later ( the right-hand option is possibly better ), before descending to cross the burn marked on the OS map. The track fades in and out a bit but sticks to the high ground heading for the summit wall and trig point.
From the top, head generally south-west aiming for the high ground, in about 550m you gain a gravel track.
Follow this past a bothy, shooting butts and a communications aerial before descending to join the main track in the glen at sheep pens.
Turn right and follow the track past old railway wagons used as sheep shelters to the Spout of Ballochleam and Ballochleam.

Campsie Fells

Gargunnock Hills Gallery :: Campsie Fells Gallery

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