We recently discovered a little gem of a walk over the Clackmannanshire Bridge at Alva Glen. The walk takes you up through a forest following along the Alva Burn and then opens up to a hill climb in the Ochil Hills ending in spectacular views.
There is a small carpark at the foot of the hill with a number of picnic tables, although as usual our kids opted for the classic boot picnic instead! I would highly recommend fueling up before setting off as although the walk was totally manageable by my three (age 7 and 4) it is steep in many parts.
From the car park the walk winds uphill following alongside the burn. There are some steps at the beginning of the walk and then for sometime you follow along over an old waterpipe, which the kids enjoyed trying to spot as it poked out from underground. There are lots of lovely little waterfalls along the route and small bridges crossing back and forth across- perfect for pooh-sticks. The path is often uneven and steep with a drop on one side to the water (small fence running alongside) so you will have to be careful with small children. We were able to tell the 4 year olds that they had to walk and not run and we made sure that there was an adult up front and behind.
At the top of the forest walk there is an impressive waterfall with a rocky area which is perfect for a paddle as the water was fairly shallow when we visited in August.
From here the walk opens up and its a steep climb upwards, zig-zagging across the hill. The path is narrow and at times rocky but slow and steady and my three made it up easily. Keep a close eye on the kids here as the path is right on the edge and is single file only. The views from here are stunning and the hillside was covered in wildflowers buzzing with different insects which kept the kids entertained. We spotted butterflies, blue beetles, grasshoppers and hoverflies on our walk.
As we reached the summit the kids were pretty impressed and proud of how high they had climbed and by the views looking back down the glen towards the Firth of Forth. This was also the perfect spot for our hot chocolate reward and a refuel for the last part of the adventure.
As you reach the summit of the hill there is a stile over a fence which leads you down the other side of the hill to ‘Smugglers Cave’. This part of the walk is really steep and at points is a definite scramble on hands and feet down the rocky path. We had to take this part really slow and one adult had to help each of the kids down the rocks one at a time but it was totally worth the adventure as at the bottom is Smugglers Cave. This is a small cave with a waterfall running through it. It is really something to see and the perfect spot for a paddle or even a swim.
The walk back up and then down the other side of the hill was relatively easy as long as the kids took their time and was spent discussing the pirates who may have visited the cave and where they may have hidden their treasure!
Key info
Parking:
You can park for free at the car park at the foot of the walk
Toilets:
No toilets available
Cafe:
None on site, pack a flask!
Top Tips
The walk is steep in parts so make sure you pack plenty of snacks to keep little legs moving upward!
The path is often narrow, steep and rocky so make sure young children know how to walk safely.
Once at the summit there were a lot of midgies when we visited, (luckily for us though they are super attracted to my husband so they left the rest of us alone!) so maybe pack some deterrent spray.
Pack spare clothes incase anyone goes for a paddle or a dip in the burn.
Links: