MUNRO-BAGGERS will find themselves climbing the grandest mountains in Scotland, but if they turn their noses up at the smaller peaks, they'll miss out on some treasures. Try the Ochils, for instance – peaceful, calm and high enough to create aching calf muscles.
This is perfect country for crisp winter days with clear blue skies, when the ground underneath is not as boggy as it can be in the warmer months
and the views extend from Ben Lomond in the west round to the Ben Lawers massif in the north.
The Grampians can also be seen on this walk from the top of Ben Cleuch – the highest of the hills in the range.
Going up Ben Cleuch could be seen as a form of 'bagging' in itself, but it does allow you to see the whole of the range below you.
From the A91, the Ochils can seem quite daunting: they rear up very steeply from the Forth Valley floor. But there are a number of ways through this fortress-like wall, which stretches from the edge of Stirling all the way to Dollar.
One is up Silver Glen, above Alva, which ultimately leads up Ben Cleuch, via Ben Ever. This quickly takes you away from the bustle of the town to solitude among the slopes of high grassy hills.
Once up high, the summit of Ben Ever can be avoided to the right, but at a price – you will not see the great panorama of mountain country to the north at its best. A steep climb to the trig point and viewfinder on the top of Ben Cleuch is quickly reached before you stride out along a broad ridge to Andrew Gannel Hill – this is great hillwalking, rewarding little effort with far-reaching views. (It also avoids the Law and its knee-wrenching path back to the valley.)
There follows perhaps the quietest and best part of the walk as you descend under King's Seat Hill to a boggy col – all that can be seen is wild country. A path then takes you down the serrated flanks of the hills via Gannel Burn. Towards the bottom, take a detour right at a big boulder in the middle of the path to see the dramatic meeting of burns below the Law.
All too quickly you arrive in Tillicoultry. This is a walk to use a bus, or have two cars. You can follow low-level paths to Alva but your legs will probably be aching from the steep gradients up and down. (The start of the route is signed just over 100 yards down Upper Mill Street – on the right after the Woolpack Inn.)
Taking the bus along the A91 (farther down Upper Mill Street) is much easier – the services are frequent but you can check Traveline (0871 200 22 33, www.traveline scotland.com). As with all walks up hills, take a map and compass, know how to use them, and wear warm, waterproof clothing with good boots.
Distance 71/2 miles (or 9, if you walk from Tillicoultry to Alva).
Height climbed 2,480ft.
Time 5 to 51/2 hours.
Map OS Landranger 58.
Park Follow a sign to Alva Glen off the town's main street (Stirling Street). Go down Brook Street to its end, then use a car park to the right of the golf club's.
Directions Follow a path up from the car park and cross the Alva Burn. Go up steps which lead to the left and, once under an old water pipe, bear right to reach a small metal gate. Go through it and cross open hillside through gorse to a track where you go left, uphill.
Ignore a path going right and continue to a stile, cross it and go up Silver Glen. At some metal sheep pens go right, off the main path, uphill to a junction. Bear left to the summit of Ben Ever. Drop down to a col, cross a stile on the right and climb up to Ben Cleuch.
Follow a fence down to a stile on the left, cross it and drop down to a col before going up to the top of Andrew Gannel Hill. Go down to a boggy col, cross it and follow a path, right, down to Tillicoultry.
Refreshments There's little choice in Alva or Tillicoultry but plenty in Stirling.
While you are in the area Castle Campbell, standing at the top of Dollar Glen, is a picturesque spot. The 15th-century fortress is looked after by Historic Scotland (01259 742408,
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), and is closed on Thursdays and Fridays until April 1.
The full article contains 780 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
