Alva Branch Railway

A new addition to the Scottish Rail Network in 2008 was the reconnection of Alloa to Stirling. I travelled on this line not long after the re-opening and have since gone all the way from Alloa to Glasgow on a couple of occasions. The service is now firmly established and reports suggest an imminent extension eastwards to Clackmannan and the proposed Talgo train factory at Kincardine. The route originally ran all the way to Dunfermline but passenger services were withdrawn in 1968 and freight reduced in stages until stubs remained at either end. A little-known branch once served the Clackmannanshire town of Alva and this left the main line at Cambus. Closure to passengers was announced in 1954 but a freight connection to the Glenochil Distillery and yeast plant near Menstrie ran until the late 1980s. This trackbed now forms a pleasant flat walk with the Ochil Hills looming high.

Cambus is a small village with an excellent tea room. The River Devon is a tributary of the Forth and the two watercourses join here. Also in the vicinity is a huge bonded warehouse complex and cooperage. A nice riverside trail follows the Forth back to Alloa and you can also wander down to the Cambus pools which are a haven for birds. The trees around the cooperage are all stained black due to vapours emitted from the whisky barrels. This apparently causes a fungal growth on the tree bark and the phenomenon can also be observed at many rural distilleries - the angel's share leaving traces on the landscape. A quarter of a million casks are serviced at Cambus every year and the aroma of wood and liquor is palpable as you stroll along the path beside the boundary fence. The Diageo bottled drinks complex is massive and contains a staggering nine miles of roadway within. There are storage facilities for four million casks of whisky - approximately one fifth of all the Scotch maturing in the world right now. We followed the River Devon and passed by an elegantly arched iron bridge which has been restored but is currently fenced off. One of the oldest examples of its kind in Scotland, the bridge dates from the early 19th century and is now an A-listed monument. It was built to carry horse-drawn traffic across the river and a busy distillery was in operation here long before Diageo moved in. Eventually the slender crossing became redundant and fell into decay. A restoration programme was launched in 1997 and one hopes the ancient bridge will be open to the public at some point in the future. We spotted a swan sitting on its riverside nest and it didn't seem too perturbed as we crept by. They may be extremely common birds but it's magnificent to witness them in flight. We continued along the bank then dipped below the bridge carrying the Alloa to Stirling railway over the river. At this point we picked up the trackbed of the branch line and diverged from the Devon. A straight course stretched ahead of us and the surrounding landscape was as flat as the proverbial pancake, with the bluff facade of the Ochil Hills rising to the north.

A partially ruined dovecote stood lineside and made for an atmospheric photo. As part of my Postcrossing project, I received a message from a French lady asking if I could forward her some pictures of Scottish dovecots. I'll be sure to include this one. The path passed under the A907 and I made a little detour to check out the historic Tullibody Old Bridge that carried the original course of the road over the Devon. Constructed in the early 1500s, this crossing fell out of use in 1915 as it was deemed inadequate to cope with the emergence of motorised transport. It was repurposed as part of a public footpath in 2003 and also allows cyclists to stay off the modern highway. Back on the trackbed, a gentle curve appeared and we crossed the river on the original steel bridge. I also noticed the remains of a level crossing for agricultural vehicles, along with a fading sign warning of the penalties for trespassing on the railway! Obviously this didn't apply today but it's worth bearing in mind that the "right to roam" never extends to a working line. British Transport Police can - an do - prosecute, even on stretches of iron road that see little use. A family of mallard ducklings were out for a swim and I managed to grab a few nice photos. Unbelievably cute! As we swung towards Menstrie, we left the railway path and wandered into the village centre. The trail does actually continue towards Alva but a Diageo plant straddles the trackbed, necessitating a detour along the A91 pavement. Menstrie Castle on the lower slopes of the Ochils had been clearly visible during our walk. A three-storey manor house, it was the early 17th century home to Sir William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling, who was instrumental in founding the colony of Nova Scotia. The castle had fallen into a severe state of disrepair by the middle of the 20th century. Fortunately it hung on until the implementation of the Listed Building legislation, whereupon it was designated Category A. Four flats now occupy the premises and the National Trust looks after the building, granting limited public access. In the village centre, I liked the Fox Boy sculpture in Midtown Gardens. Erected in 2008, the figure depicts a young lad with a fox's head sitting on a water wheel. Representing both past and modern life, the boy is dressed in contemporary style complete with trainers and hoodie, while the fox head and tail tell two stories - there are wild foxes around us in the countryside, but in days gone by the village children also kept the animals as pets. Included in the sculpture is a buzzard symbolising the pair who inhabit the local woods. Under the boy's right hand is a maple leaf - a comment on Menstrie's connection with Nova Scotia - now a Canadian Province.

There are some great walks up and down the steep Ochil Glens, Menstrie being one of them. Such exertion wasn't on the agenda today and we began the return amble to Cambus. The path was busy with walkers and the smooth level tarmac surface ensures people of all abilities can enjoy the experience. This does come at an expense to wildlife though, as overgrown abandoned railways often harbour all sorts of creatures in both urban and rural settings. The more you clean up these forgotten transport arteries, the less wildlife will survive. It's a balancing act between the physical and mental wellbeing of humans and a desire to protect flora and fauna which faces ever decreasing space in which to flourish. The butterflies were out in force today however. I saw many examples of the orange-tipped species, the pattern under the wings being spectacular. The old papillon isn't easy to photograph. A great deal of patience is required - along with a healthy dose of luck! A very pleasant outing across the Great Plains of Clackmannanshire. Fresh air, winged creatures and tales of trains. Excellent ingredients!