Clackmannanshire

About Clackmannanshire

Clackmannanshire is, in terms of population, the smallest council area in mainland Scotland and has earned the nickname the "wee county". Almost half of it population lives in the town of Alloa which is the main town and administrative centre. Referred to as "Scotland in minature", by the Clackmannanshire County Council, the area has magnificent scenery of rolling hills dotted with pretty little villages and the occasional castle.

The Ochill Hills supply a stunning backdrop to an area which has plenty of visitor attractions to entertain the visitor. The hills stretch for about forty miles from the Bridge of Allan, north-east of Stirling to the Firth of Tay to Newburgh. The highest summit is Ben Cleuch at 2363 ft (720 m). The Ochill Hills are decorated with a number of picturesque richly wooded glens such as Glen Alva which is a deeply cut glen popular with hillwalkers.

At the foot of the Ochil Hills is a string of small settlements known as the "Hillfoot villages"; Alva, Tillicoultry and Dollar. The Hillfoot villages have been at the centre of Scotland's woolen industry for centuries. At it's peak in the 19th Century the county had over 30 working mills and many remain today. The Hillfoots famously moved weaving from a cottage industry to the industrial mills making Clckmannanshire the 2nd most important weaving centre in Scotland. Even in this age of modern technology there remains an active woolen industry but, sadly, many of the old family firms and hand-knitters have found themselves unable to compete.

Things to see and do around Clackmannanshire

Mill Trail Visitor Centre The Mill Trail starts at the Mill Trail Visitor Centre in Alva which describes traditional weaving and spinning together with knitting processes. Comparisons are drawn between the traditional processes and those employed in the modern woolen mills. The trail takes you to modern factory shops from where you will be able to purchase souvenirs.
Tel: 01259 769696

Menstrie Castle is the birthplace of Sir William Alexander. Sir William was a famous poet and scholar known for founding the Plantation of Nova Scotia. The castle is home to an exhibition explaining how Sir William set about establishing a Scottish colony in Canada.
Tel: 01259 211701

Clackmannanshire Links

Clackmannanshire Council
The official site for Clackmannanshire County Council