CARRON BRIDGE AREA

CARRON BRIDGE AREA

1
Carron Reservoir, the back of Kilsyth Hills extreme left of picture, most of this area has been used for forestry, now many of the trees have come of age there are vast deserts of dead wood, don't know how you feel about this but to me it is a violation of the countryside. On the skyline is Meikle Bin, it has claimed the lives of a number of pilots. I remember as a boy going up into the hills and looking for relics, however I must admit as young people we did not fully understand the consequences of these terrible accidents. The Meikle Bin is the highest hill in the area at 570 metres.

Provost of Kilsyth

John Stark 1904-07

2
Carronbridge, the River Carron flows through this valley, running east towards Denny. These huts are privately owned, a place to spend the weekends in good warm weather away from it all? Mind you the Carron Inn is a stones throw from here and hosts one of the best Burns Suppers in the district.

3
Carron Loch jetty. Although this is a reservoir, it is also licensed for trout fishing and boat hiring is also available. I remember some time ago the British Prime Minister, Harold McMillan, has fished this loch, can't say I know an awful lot about the sport but as a young man I purchased a new fly fishing rod and stood for five hours at Townhead Reservoir, needless to say I didn't even get a bite but I enjoyed living in my head for that time.

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Carron Bridge looking north from the Kilsyth side of the river.

Masonic Temple Kilsyth St John 39

PM. James Lawrie 1864-66

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Jetty, Carron Loch.

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Carronbridge, this sandstone bridge crosses the Carron looking south west towards Kilsyth which lies a few miles over the hills. Interesting to think that the Marquis of Montrose crossed over here towards Kilsyth in 1645. So too did the Earl of Lennox on his return from the field at Bannockburn in 1314. The road these armies took were used by cattle drovers who moved their herd across central Scotland .(Don't want to confuse you about the bridge structure itself, it may well have been slightly down below the original.)

Provost of Kislyth

William Wilson1895-04

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This small reservoir is on the south side of Carronbridge on the road to Kilsyth, again it is used for fishing and occasional picnicking. In good weather it is a fine place to rest and enjoy the wonder of nature.

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Carronbridge coming from Kilsyth. The log cabin and the caravan on the opposite side of the bridge is owned by Robert Stevenson, an old army buddy of mine.

King of Scotland

Alexander 2nd 1214-49

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A more detailed print of the small reservoir just above Carronbridge on the road to Kilsyth.

10
The Carron Dam, skyline Kilsyth Hills.

Provost of Kilsyth

Alex Fisher 1931-34

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Carronbridge, the River Carron. Some of Scotland's historical figures such as the Wallace and his followers would have waded across the River Carron on retreat from the Battle of Falkirk. (However Falkirk is some distance away from Carronbridge, probably 4 or 5 miles downstream).

Masonic Temple Kilsyth St John 39

PM. John Irvine 1866-67

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Carron Dam.

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Kirk o Mair, there was a church in this vicinity in the 11th and 12th century, some of the graves are that of the Covenanters, since I can remember Kilsyth people and Denny attend an open air kirk service on the first Sunday in August annually. From the start and beyond the 1900s right up to the 1950s the people of Kilsyth would gather on the first Sunday in August carrying their open bible, would walk over the Kilsyth hills to take part in the service at Kirk O Mair. I've heard it said from some of the older people, most of whom have gone, that before the dam was built, there was a small village in the valley but this was lost when they flooded the area to create what is now the Carron Dam.

Provost of Kilsyth

John Jarvie1934-37

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From the north side of the Dam looking towards the Meikle Bin.

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This is a small farm on the south side of the River Carron. I once interviewed a senior citizen and she told me that at the start of the 19th century as a young girl she worked in one of the farms in this area and in winter, the severity was such that the inhabitants would not see another human being for anything up to six weeks, the snow and drifting was so severe, (At that particular time there was little or no transport, the Kilsyth Hills for example was littered with footpaths, the most famous of these was the fisher's path that led from Kilsyth to the Burnhoose at the back of the Carron Dam).

G Ravenhill VC. 2nd Bn.Royal

Scots Fusiliers 15/12/1899

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This area is seldom visited and I am quite sure if you asked anybody offhand where this was, they would not know. In fact it is called Birkin Moor. I have stood on Lairds Hill on a reasonably damp day when torrential rain crushed the earth, during this time Birkin Moor becomes a mass of burns and raging water, all of which runs in to Birkin Burn, a few hundred metres after this the burn becomes the Garrell at a place called the Lairds Loup which is slightly right and out of picture.

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Carron Loch from Tam Tain, Kilsyth Hills.

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Carron Loch from the Meikle Bin.

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Carron Loch from the east.

Masonic Temple Kilsyth St John 39

PM. William Rankin1867-69

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Carronbridge Hotel. Serves good beer, pleasant friendly people and if you need something to eat, I recommend it. The road branching off to the right takes you back into Kilsyth. There is also a road on the left hand side, this takes you to Stirling, the road straight ahead to Denny.

Provost of Kilsyth

James Watson1937-43

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Carronbridge looking towards Kilsyth Hills.

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This is near the summit of the Carron Road looking down into the Clyde valley.

King of Scotland

Alexander 3rd 1249-86

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Kirk O Mair, winter.

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From Tam Tain looking towards Callander.

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From Tam Tain looking towards Callander in the
famous Trossachs. Perthshire in the far distance.

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Taken fromTam Tain, winter, looking north towards Perthshire.

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Carronbridge looking east from the Denny Road.