Tillicoultry: Walking and Local History

If you are planning a stay in Tillicoultry, there are several different things to focus on: walks in Tillicoultry Glen, golf and skiing, as well as historic sites and buildings. The best way to decide which ones suit your plans is to consider the specific routes, activities and local history.

Walking in Tillicoultry Glen and the Ochil Hills

Tillicoultry Glen lies above the town. A walking path between Tillicoultry and Dollar passes through mixed woodland, including Melloch Wood and Lawmuir Wood. The Ben Cleuch route from Tillicoultry is a different kind of walk: it is graded as difficult and is 8.2 miles long. The route passes through Tillicoultry Glen to the Ochil peaks and returns via Woodland Park. It starts at the car park at the top of Upper Mill Street.

When choosing between these routes, the destination, route and level of difficulty are particularly helpful: the walking path connects Tillicoultry and Dollar through woodland; the Ben Cleuch route leads to the peaks and back. It is one of three varied routes through the steep-sided, wooded Hillfoot Glens, with their fast-flowing streams. The length and grading of the Ben Cleuch route give you a concrete basis for fitting this walk into your day’s plans.

There is time-sensitive information about the path conditions: in November 2024, the path through Tillicoultry Glen was closed beyond the first bridge. Visitors were advised at the time to use the alternative route on the eastern side of the gorge. If you are planning a walk, check the current path conditions before your visit.

Skiing and golf

Firpark Ski Centre offers year-round skiing on a 120-metre artificial ski slope. It caters to all experience levels, and expert guidance from experienced ski instructors is also available. This makes it quite different from the long, difficult Ben Cleuch walk: here, the focus is on a clearly measured slope with lessons available.

Tillicoultry Golf Club is a nine-hole parkland course at the foot of the Ochil Hills, offering golf to locals and visitors. A path to Wood Hill Wood also starts at the golf club, near Tillicoultry. It runs for about 600 metres alongside the golf course. This gives you two different options to consider for a stay: golf on the parkland course, or a path that continues to Wood Hill Wood.

Local history and historic buildings

The Tillicoultry Conservation Area covers the historic town centre north of High Street (A91). It includes Upper Mill Street, Walker Terrace, Stirling Street, Ochil Street, Hamilton Street and Hill Street. These streets define the boundaries of the protected historic area and help place the buildings and memorial sites mentioned here in the context of the town centre.

The Old Churchyard near Tillicoultry House was the site of a former pre-Reformation church. Its gravestones date back to the 12th century and include many early, rare and important examples. Many feature depictions of tools, such as spades, mallets, chisels and gloves. The gravestones thus connect the long history of the burial ground with specific motifs preserved in stone.

Tillicoultry War Memorial is in the main cemetery on the eastern edge of the town, just off the A91. The First World War section consists of a granite monument featuring a pensive female figure holding a wreath of victory. The Second World War section comprises 32 individual gravestones arranged symmetrically. The materials, figure and arrangement clearly distinguish the memorial’s two sections.

Devonvale Hall and Beechwood House also represent different architectural and design histories. Devonvale Hall is a little-altered events venue from the 1930s, with numerous fine Art Deco and Neo-Georgian details. Beechwood House dates from around 1860 and retains elaborate plasterwork and high-quality woodwork. From the 1870s onwards, it was home to James Archibald, a prominent local wool mill owner, and his family. While Devonvale Hall is characterised by its 1930s architecture, Beechwood House combines older interiors with the history of a local wool-milling family.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, Alva, Alloa, Dollar.

See the overview of the wider area: Clackmannanshire.