Other Stuff
GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ALLOA
ALLOA TOWER
If on wandering in here you find yourself gazing at some shelves full of chicken breasts and buy-one-get-one-free offers, then you'll know you've mistakenly wandered into the adjacent Tesco supermarket. If this happens, then buy something so as to pretend you are there on purpose, then scuttle swiftly next door to the old tower. Of course the tower may not be open. It only opens in the afternoons in summer. Great, eh? Write to The National Trust For Scotland to complain. When it is open, it is a superb old thing, said to be 'one of the largest tower houses in Scotland', and home to the Earls of Mar from the late 14th century up to 1800. In places its walls are a whopping eleven feet thick.
If on wandering in here you find yourself gazing at some shelves full of chicken breasts and buy-one-get-one-free offers, then you'll know you've mistakenly wandered into the adjacent Tesco supermarket. If this happens, then buy something so as to pretend you are there on purpose, then scuttle swiftly next door to the old tower. Of course the tower may not be open. It only opens in the afternoons in summer. Great, eh? Write to The National Trust For Scotland to complain. When it is open, it is a superb old thing, said to be 'one of the largest tower houses in Scotland', and home to the Earls of Mar from the late 14th century up to 1800. In places its walls are a whopping eleven feet thick.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN - TAKE THE TRAIN
While the train journey from Stirling to Alloa might not necessarily be termed a 'tourist attraction', there can be no doubt that it is a splendid short journey with magnificent views of the Wallace Monument, the Ochil Hills and the surrounding land. The train doesn't go any further than Alloa, but maybe some day it will.
While the train journey from Stirling to Alloa might not necessarily be termed a 'tourist attraction', there can be no doubt that it is a splendid short journey with magnificent views of the Wallace Monument, the Ochil Hills and the surrounding land. The train doesn't go any further than Alloa, but maybe some day it will.
THE DEVON WAY
A spur of The Devon Way walk/cycleway sits in Alloa, and a merry trek of just a couple of miles will take you to Tillicoultry, offering great views of the ever-looming Ochil Hills. The scenery is outstanding. If you're a little unfit and find yourself somewhat pooped a mere five minutes out of Alloa, then pop into the Mansfield Arms in Sauchie for a few ales and a creamy sweet. They brew their own ale. When you reach Tillicoultry there are no visitor attractions, unless you like wandering around huge furniture stores, and all there would be to do is walk up the hills, drink some ale in The Woolpack Inn, or continue on the Devon Way to Dollar. Might be worth saying that a magnificent inn sits just outside Tillicoultry. The Harviestoun Inn has bottles of local ale, and serves good food in very comfortable surroundings. In summer there can be nothing nicer than sitting outside in their courtyard, supping ale, thinking thoughts, and bathing in the scent of delightful hanging baskets of little flowers. For me, this can be one of summer's highlights.
A spur of The Devon Way walk/cycleway sits in Alloa, and a merry trek of just a couple of miles will take you to Tillicoultry, offering great views of the ever-looming Ochil Hills. The scenery is outstanding. If you're a little unfit and find yourself somewhat pooped a mere five minutes out of Alloa, then pop into the Mansfield Arms in Sauchie for a few ales and a creamy sweet. They brew their own ale. When you reach Tillicoultry there are no visitor attractions, unless you like wandering around huge furniture stores, and all there would be to do is walk up the hills, drink some ale in The Woolpack Inn, or continue on the Devon Way to Dollar. Might be worth saying that a magnificent inn sits just outside Tillicoultry. The Harviestoun Inn has bottles of local ale, and serves good food in very comfortable surroundings. In summer there can be nothing nicer than sitting outside in their courtyard, supping ale, thinking thoughts, and bathing in the scent of delightful hanging baskets of little flowers. For me, this can be one of summer's highlights.
RATING
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