The maps below are from research by Ron Page published in Forth Naturalist Historian Volume 31.

Stirling, Gateway to the North: I Roman Roads and Early Routes Page 41 
Old roads, shown as dashed tracks, on either side of the River Forth in relation to the modern road system.

DARN ROAD AND DARN WALK

There were several routes passing through the “Stirling Gap”. Before bridges were built (1409 Dunblane, 1510 Bridge of Allan) the main route between Stirling and Dunblane was on the East side of the Allan Water avoiding the two fords. The oldest route is the Darn Road also known as the Darring Road or Water Road. However, much of the current Darn Walk now follows a significantly different line to the original road.

From Bridge of Allan the old Darn Road went north past the Mill of Airthrey, more or less along Blairforkie Drive, along Glen Road until it reached the Cock’s Burn where it swung west past Drumdruills to cross the Wharry Burn near the current footbridge. A meal mill or Mill o’ Ads and the millers cottage, also known as Black Pete’s, were here beside the Burn; the remains of the cottage can still be seen over the wall. The Darn Road used to go by this mill, following the bank and passed in front of ‘new’ Kippenross House on the way to Dunblane. The old tower house was on a bluff beside the river ¼ mile away. The Darn Road continued south of the current Darn Walk above, probably closer to the line of the present driveway. The Darn Road then branched 3 ways approaching the town; down to the river crossing, behind Beech Road shops to join Smithy Loan and towards Fourways junction through the current golf carpark. Locals used to walk their cows along Darn Road behind the Beech Road shops to graze them in the cowpark at the last two golf holes. Livestock for the fairs by the cathedral was held at Holmehill cowpark which was where the old Sheriffmuir Road ended via Newton Loan.

The Darn Road was still in use by horse and carts between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan until 1854, and would have included traffic from the mills along the river. However with the turnpike road on the west side of the Allan Water and the new Glen Road to the east, traffic dwindled away from the Darn Road. In 1858 it was considered a mere footpath and was diverted by landowner John Stirling. However closing the road caused great local resentment. A wall was built across the road, but the work done by day was knocked down each night, allegedly by the same workmen (Barty 1944, 269). A compromise was agreed following a court case in the Edinburgh Court of Sessions which included a diversion to the east side of new Kippenross house, the Darn Walk of today.

Locals also wished to retain public access along the old droving route from Doune which went along Baxters Loan, Hillside towards Kippenross along the South driveway and river crossing, to join the Darn Road to Bridge of Allan. Although the driveway just provides access to the house today, you can still walk on paths to the south to cross the railway and river to join Darn Road, or another old route via GallowHill to Bridge of Allan. (See Dunblane Area Green Travel Map for the current core path routes.)

South of the Wharry Burn towards Bridge of Allan, landowner Lord Abercrombie (the silver/coppermine magnate and spa entrepreneur) wanted to develop pleasure gardens for the growing Bridge of Allan Spa. His plans were partially realised in the paths we use today; the riverside Darn Walk passes “Stevenson’’s Cave” (an old mine adit) and crosses the Cock’s Burn to Bridge of Allan, or the sunken path leads along the side of the Cock’s Burn gorge up to Glen road. The “Lover’s Walk” above Blairforkie Drive was probably adapted from the old road which stays high above Henderson Street/old marsh area towards Pathfoot/Airthrey, where it linked with the old Hillfoots back road, or dropped down to cross the Causeway to Stirling.

GLEN ROAD – construction and rescue

This was built in two stages by the local landowner John Stirling of Kippendavie (1811 – 1882) who became the key developer in Dunblane. The first section of Glen Road was constructed in 1835 from Fourways roundabout to Kippenrait to replace the old Sheriffmuir Road which ran up along Newton Loan past Dykedale Farm across to Lynn’s ford (between Stonehill farm and the Lynns) and then on to Bridge of Allan. The next stage of Glen Road was built in the 1840’s when John Stirling bought land from Lord Abercrombie, south of the Wharry Burn, to extend the Glen Road through Kippenrait Glen to Bridge of Allan. The original stone culverts, walls and stone paving beneath the tarmac can still be appreciated. The dramatic stone bridge is now ‘C’ listed and was built by local stone mason Steven McVicar. Incidentally his daughter Mary married the young railway engineer Mr Phillips who honed his skills building the tricky section along the river north of Dunblane, before emigrating to build railways across North America.

The influx of Spa tourists walking in the Glen and the railway probably provided the impetus and skills for the significant task of building a road along the steep sided gorge. Although initially a private road, public pressure led to Glen Road being adopted as a public road until 1987 when it was closed to traffic by Stirling Council due to landslips. It quickly became very popular with cyclists, walkers and runners not only for leisure, but also for commuting to the University and Stirling to avoid the busy A9. However the lack of maintenance to vegetation overgrowth and blocked drains threatened the survival of the route.

GLEN ROAD RESCUE PROJECT

• Video of ride through before work started
• Powerpoint presentation of project photos

In 2011 Stirling Council agreed to co-ordinate a rescue project supported by Sustrans with long term maintenance by local volunteers from Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. A key aim was to promote NCN 765 through the Glen until an off road route by the A9 could be provided. A bio-engineering survey from volunteer engineer Ian MacLachlan and a low quote from a contractor, helped to kick start the project planning process. Since the Glen was subject to strict management conditions as a Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest, a plant survey and permissions from Scottish Natural Heritage were required. Although the road was a core path three landowners also needed to give permission. Due to lack of funds from Stirling Council the volunteers applied for match funding through Dunblane Development Trust in partnership with Bridge of Allan Community Council and Sustrans Rangers. Grants of £3750 were granted from Clackmannan and Stirling Environment Trust, Community Pride, CSGN, Ashden Trust and a Bike train donation, and Sustrans provided £4000.

Volunteers pulled saplings from the road to replant later at slip areas. The Council cut back trees to improve access of 3.5 metre radius. The contractor dug out blocked drains and scraped surface matter to place in approved fill areas. Technical and conservation training prepared the volunteers who organised weekly work parties to keep ditches working, rod and protect drains, support road edges, remove fallen trees and keep the road open after new landslips. Although wood can be thrown into the glen, soils and organic matter have to be barrowed to three specific fill areas. Unusually wet winters of 2011 and 2012 and summer 2012 contributed to new landslips originating from above and below the road. A flash flood in August 2012 caused a landslide which had to be mechanically removed with the remaining funds. The road further down to Bridge of Allan suffered surface damage which is being partially repaired by the landowner and Stirling Council.

Almost 30 volunteers helped during 2012 for 700 hours, particularly a small core of regulars. Many people passing through the Glen express their appreciation and sometimes get hijacked! Since few people knew about the special conservation designations and heritage, and we wished to promote the NCN 765, an interpretation board and information on the new community website was created.

A few of the volunteers with new clean tools!