Cambus Pools Nature Reserve And Rivers Devon and Forth Walk

See also the concise version of this walk.

Clackmannanshire offers plenty of choice for walking in beautiful countryside.

The area alongside the end of the River Devon, past the Cambus Pools Nature Reserve and along the Forth at Blackgrange might not be an obvious candidate for the list, but it has a peacefulness and beauty of its own, and offers excellent views of the western end of the Ochil Hill's escarpment.

What I enjoy most about this walk are the open views and peacefulness alongside the Forth, especially when I am in a contemplative mood.

Walk route. Approximate distances: 1-3: 975m; 3-5: 520m; 5-6: 410m; 6-8: 1,500m; 3-10: 620m; 10-11: 2,300m.
See this area on an OS map.

This there-and-back walk with two branches can be anything from 2.2km (1.4 miles) up to 12.7km (getting on for 8 miles) for truly masochistic walkers.

Because you have to come back the way you came and there's no particular destination except the barrier to further progress at the end, you can turn around at any point, and I recommend a route (see map) of about 3km (1.9 miles). See map and below text.

The walk cries out to be circular. Look at an Ordnance Survey map, or view the satellite image on Multimap and, like me, you might quickly conclude that it must be possible not to have to re-trace your steps.

If it is possible to make it circular in anything like a responsible-citizen way or getting sucked down by the mud of the Forth, then we failed to find it. If you know different, please let me know!

Technicalities

Distance: 2.2-12.7km (1.4-7.9 miles). Suggested: about 3km (1.9 miles)
Grade: 1
Dogs: Welcome, but respect the nature reserve and in particular do not let your dog anywhere near the pools or surrounding reeds. Also be aware that the mud alongside the Devon and Forth is thick, potentially dangerous, and just a few playful bounds from the path.

The weir that marks the start of the tidal section of the River Devon (6 May 09)

Bikes

When I did this walk with this write-up in mind I failed to set the GPS to record my track. So my wife and I went back with bikes a few days later.

So I can say from experience that the way along the river appears to be more bike friendly than it actually is.

Leave your gun in the car (6 May 09)

Although there's a worn path all the way around the bank of the Forth it is narrow, hard and bumpy, with quite big stones in places. None of that might pose a problem for walking, but makes it uncomfortable on a bike and you might find yourself walking with it than you would hope, as we did.

Starting Point

OS Landranger Map 65, grid reference NS854940 (N56.12477 W3.84465)

Navigation

Navigation is straightforward with virtually no opportunity to stray from the path even if you wanted to.

Terrain

Overall the route is flat with no obstacles to negotiate.

The wooded section of the walk at the beginning can be very muddy.

The path around by the Forth is hard and, in places, uneven.

The section beyond 6 on the map consists of tarmacked and unmetalled roads.

Footbridge over the Devon at the start of the walk (6 May 09)

Getting There

From the east: About two miles from the centre of Alloa on the A907, turn left at traffic lights into Station Road, sign posted to Cambus.

Follow this road for quarter of a mile, turning right into Devon Place at the end where it turns right into Main Street.

Devon Place is a cul de sac. Park on the road towards the far end.

From the west: Follow the A907 from it's intersection with the A91 just north of Stirling (sign posted to Alloa).

1.8 miles from the A91, turn right at the roundabout to continue on the A907 (sign posted Alloa).

Just over half a mile further, turn right at the traffic lights towards Cambus and follow the directions from the east above.

Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) 6 May 2009

From the north: Head west towards Stirling along the B9140, which runs parallel to the Ochil Hills through Coalsnaughton, Fishcross and Glenochil.

Turn left towards Alloa at the roundabout where it meets the A907 and follow the directions above.

The Walk

The walk starts from Devon Place, 1 on the above map, where you should have no problems parking.

Cross the bridge over the Devon at 2 and follow the path into the woods to the left.

When I went this way earlier in May it was carpeted with ramsons flowers and the air was thick with it's garlic aroma. The leaves and stalks are edible (but best picked earlier in the year, prior to flowering), tasting similar to but milder than garlic, and can be used raw in salads, but beware that ramsons leaves are similar to those of the poisonous lily of the valley. Rub the leaves between your fingers and if they don't smell of garlic, leave well alone.

Almost as soon as you enter the woods you will see a small foot-worn path down to the river on the left where you can get a close-up view of the old weir, marking the start of the short tidal part of the Devon.

Follow the path through the woods and alongside the Devon. If you have a dog, be aware that there is plenty of scope for it to wallow in muddy water on both sides.

Turn right at 3. This takes you along a path between fields holding, at the time of writing and previous occasions when I have been that way, rare-breed sheep.

You can't see much of or get close to the pools of the nature reserve.

There is an open wild area at 4 liberally speckled with hawthorn that is very pretty at the moment (late May 2009 - the above photo was taken before the show really got going).

Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis) alongside the path (6 May 09)

However the path turns into a narrow hedged in way at 5, which might be a good point to turn back.

At 6 is an alternative place to park. To get there follow the sign to Blackgrange (I need to check that!) from the A907 and follow your nose between and alongside warehouses to the end of the road. (see OS map.)

If curiosity really gets the better of you, and I suggest you don't let it, you can walk along the road (there is a pavement), turning left into the first lane you come to, that doesn't have a pavement, at 7.

Just keep going.

The road turns into a farm track and eventually you will come to a locked gate at 8. You can't get further than this, and it is also not possible to get to or squeeze past along the bank of the river to make a circular walk of it.

And although you come tight up against the river at the end, you can't really see it.

You have no choice but to retrace your steps all the way back to 3, from where you can continue the walk along the Forth.

The river is tidal here, reducing to a wide band of mud with a relatively narrow ribbon of water running through it when the tide is out.

The Forth in the quiet bleakness of a grey day. You can make out the Wallace Monument beyond. (6 May 09)

Cycling is comfortable only as far as 9 where the wear in the track suggests cyclists often turn around here. Past the gate at 10 it becomes decidedly jarring on the hard uneven surface.

Walking is much easier though, and it is worth continuing until you have had your fill of the open views of the river to your left and the Ochil Hills to the north.

After a while the view of the river disappears behind reeds, that seem to go on for ever. But they do end some way before you get to the ultimate end of the path at 11.

Unfortunately though, if you get as far as the end, you must turn around and walk the same way back, and the lack of variety makes it feel a longer haul than it really is.

Recommended Route

To get the best from this walk while keeping it short I suggest you go as far as 4 on the spur away from the Forth and then a little way along the river before turning back.