Southern Highlands

Ben Cleuch in the Ochil Hills

Photographs of a circular traverse

of Ben Cleuch in the Ochil Hills

above Alva and Tillicoultry

to the east of Stirling

in Central Scotland

Dumyat in the Ochil Hills

from Alva

Path through Wood Hill Wood

Alva on ascent of Ben Cleuch

Gargunnock Hills and Myreton Hill

on ascent of Ben Cleuch

Wikipedia - Myreton Hill

River Forth and Silver Glen

on ascent of Ben Cleuch

Ben Cleuch from Ben Ever

Trig Point

on summit of Ben Cleuch ( 721m, 2,365ft )

the highest point in the Ochil Hills.

View to the North

from the Trig Point

on summit of Ben Cleuch ( 721m, 2,365ft )

River Forth and Tillicoultry

on descent of Ben Cleuch

via The Law

Mill Glen

on descent to Tillicoultry

from Ben Cleuch

On descent to Tillicoultry

from Ben Cleuch

Mill Glen

on descent to Tillicoultry

from Ben Cleuch

Tillicoultry

on descent of Mill Glen

Quarry at Tillicoultry

on descent of Mill Glen

Old Mill House

at foot of Mill Glen

in Tillicoultry

Path from Tillicoultry

back to Wood Hill Wood

Ben Cleuch and the Ochil Hills

above Tillicoultry

Castle Campbell beneath the Ochil Hills

Castle Campbell is a medieval castle
situated above the town of Dollar.

It was the lowland seat of the earls and dukes of Argyll,
chiefs of Clan Campbell,
from the 15th to the 19th century

Wikipedia - Castle Campbell

Undiscovered Scotland - Castle Campbell

Wikipedia - Dollar

Route Map for Ben Cleuch

BEN CLEUCH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Ochil Hills
Map: OS Landranger 58 [GR 898975]
Distance: 6.5 miles [11km]
Time: 4 hours
Terrain: tracks and paths

Ben Cleuch, the highest hill in the Ochils, is usually climbed from Tillicoultry but parking here can be awkward, especially at weekends. Better parking can be found at a woodland car park accessed immediately to the east of Alva, where it is signposted from the A91. The circuit from here is also perhaps a ﬁner way to appreciate the hill. Cross the access road to follow a track uphill through lovely woodland, then at the point this track descends to cross a bridge over the Silver Burn, break off right and climb a narrow path steeply through gorse then trees, out into the open. Climb the path up the shoulder of the hill past a stand of Scots pine and continue uphill alongside the grassy line of an old wall. Where the path forks, go left then swing around right on to the top of Wood Hill, at the end of the long, outstretched right arm of Ben Cleuch. Easy walking now leads across a curious trench-like landform, then along the arm and up on to the shoulder of Ben Ever. After a short descent, swing around and climb beside a fence to reach the surprisingly rocky summit of Ben Cleuch (721m), a splendid panoramic viewpoint. Descend gently south-east, then south along Ben Cleuch’s left arm, on to the top of the Law, where the slender south ridge leads steeply down to Tillicoultry. Cross the burn at the bottom and traverse over into the lovely gorge of Mill Glen. The path crosses over the burn a number of times to emerge at the bottom on its left side. Cross over once more, then go over Upper Mill Street into and down its continuation lane to reach Scotland Place. Go right, then left to gain a walkway and follow this westwards as it traverses above the golf course, then through the woods back to the start.