Photographs, route description and maps of Callendar Woods, Callendar Park and House at Falkirk in the Central Belt of Scotland

Callendar House in Callendar Park at Falkirk

During the 19th century, it was redesigned and extended

in the style of a French Renaissance château

fused with elements of Scottish baronial architecture.

However, the core of the building

is a 14th-century tower house.

During its 600-year history, Callendar House

has played host to many prominent historical figures,

including Mary, Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell,

Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria.

The building is a category "A" listed building,

The grounds are included in the Inventory

of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Wikipedia - Callendar House

Visit Scotland - Callendar House

Visit Falkirk - Callendar House & Park

Falkirk History - Callendar House

Canmore - Callendar House

Aerial view of Callendar House

Canmore - Callendar House

Lake in Callendar Park

at Falkirk

Map of Callendar Park

CALLANDAR PARK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location|: Falkirk
Map: 0S Landranger 65
Distance: 3.5miles (6km)
Time: 2hours
Terrain: Park and woodland paths

The centrepiece of this walk is Callandar House, which has a long and fascinating history but there is much else to enjoy.
Start the walk at Falkirk High station, which has frequent trains on the ever-busy Glasgow-to-Edinburgh line, or you can also start at the park's main carpark, which is well signposted.
Before leaving the station note the small artwork by Geoge Wylie placed here to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the line being opened. A short road walk then leads into Callendar Park and you will note that on this section you are also following John Muir Way signs.
Callendar Park originally landscaped in the late 18th century as part of the policies of the big house, is an attractive open space with a par-3 golf course and a great children's adventure playgronnd, but the central feature is the house. This imposing buiiding has a long history, much of it associated with two great families, Livingston and Forbes. The story of the house and itsd evelopment is well told in an exhibition inside and the house also features an art gallery, local history exhibit, a restored Georgian kitchen and a good tea room.
Credit must be given to the local authority who took the house over in the l960s and have not just maintained it but provided a wide range of facilities.
There are also displays on the industrial-development of the area - the Carron iron works was a major employer in Falkirk from the 18th century onwards -and on the Antonine Wall the northernmost defensivc line of the Roman Empire, which passes through this area.
Several sections of wall can still be seen.
The walk continues past the large boating pond which holds a good variety of birdlife and also unusual “birds” in the form of carved swan heads and necks which adorn the rowing boats for hire.
After this the walk returns to Callendar Woods, which are owned by the Forestry Commission and are managed as an integral part of the park's path network. From here on you follow blue waymarks all the way round. The clear path climbs steadilywith the houses of Hallglen on the left. Beyond them runs the Union Canal.
From a more open section of the path, a short walk up grass leads to the little mound known as Henry's Hill - the hill commands a wide panorama across the Firth of Forth to the steep southern wall of the Ochil Hills beyond.
After this the ﬁnal section of the walk leads back down to the road and station. This is in no sense a long or demanding walk but it makes a very enjoyable ouﬁng at any time of year with all the extraordinary history of Callandar House as a deﬁnite bonus.

Route Description for Callendar Park

CALLENDAR WOOD

Falkirk’s picturesque Callendar Wood is at least 500 years old. The wood and adjacent parkland were once the gardens and grounds of Callendar House, a home to the Forbes family for centuries and now a fascinating museum.
Today the site is managed by Forest Enterprise Scotland. Budding woodland walkers can explore the historic paths and estate carriageways of the wood and ﬁnd panoramic viewpoints offering direct vistas across the Ochil Hills and the Kelpies, or discover interesting structures, including a mausoleum built as a tribute to the Forbes family, Victorian kennels, mining remains and a hill fort. Majestic old oak trees and some sweet chestnuts, yew groves and tree~lined avenues thrive here. Many of the oak trees are young and used to produce timber; however, visitors can still discover the odd 250 year-old oak. Other native trees include Scots pine, aspen, rowan, birch and yew. The Forbes family planted the soaring North American conifers: the Douglas, noble and grand ﬁrs, sitka spruce,
western hemlock and cypress. In spring and summer, primrose, yellow pimpernel, wood anemone, wood sorrel, red campion and bluebells blossom. in autumn the wood shifts from a vibrant green to a canopy of red, orange and gold.
Among the plants and trees is a mini-world of insects including beetles, earwigs and woodlice, which provide food for birds and small mammals. As well as chafﬁnches, Warblers and other small woodland birds, walkers can listen out for noisy jays and hammering woodpeckers or look up to find sparrowhawks and buzzards. You might also catch sight of a wood mouse or a shrew in the undergrowth and, early or late in the day, a fox, roe deer or bat. After an invigorating walk through the woods, visitors can pop into Callendar House for a well deserved refreshment, or visit nearby Falkirk.

Website: https://scotiand.forestry.gov.uk/visit/callendar-wood
Telephone: 0300 067 6700
Opening times: Open 24/ 7 all year-round.
Admission costs: Free