What a stunner of a day to visit the Meikle Bin. I walked with great company of the Helensburgh and West Dumbarton Ramblers. The route was on good forestry track and a great walk for families and those that like mountain biking.
I find it an interesting walk that takes in the crash site of a Royal Navy Fairey Firefly WB518. I saw the remains of the undercarriage leg strut and cannon ports but didn’t have time to find the engine so will leave that for another visit.
From the car park at Todholes farm on the side of the B818 at north end of Carron Valley Reservoir you head up through the green barrier onto forestry track and the route has plenty sign posts taking you to the Meikle Bin.
Keep following forest roads to the break in the forest north west of Meikle Bin where you will see a picnic bench which is an ideal spot to have a break before you ascend the hill .
The ascent is a good 20 to 30 minute slog following the grassy hill path to the summit. On the way up, on the right, you will find a nicely decorated Christmas tree as it glistens in the breeze.
As you climb up the path you will see the trig point and on the right you will see another path that will lead to the undercarriage of the Fairey Firefly WB518. The trig point is still in view so you can ascend when you’ve finished looking at the wreckage.
At the trig point the views were a dream even though it was very gusty with strong winds. We quickly retraced our path back down the hill.
From the bench we headed back down the hill and followed a section of what was a fire break with parts of the path boggy but not to bad.
We got back onto the forest track and headed down where we saw a huge Heron bird and then down to the Carron Valley Reservoir. The walk along the reservoir was beautiful to walk with the sound of a Woodpecker in the distance.
We followed the path back to the car park and drove to the Culcreuch Castle Hotel, Fintry, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G63 0LW for a well deserved drink. The castle looks amazing, friendly staff and hope to revisit for a meal.
Here are some stats:-
Terrain: Forestry roads, good steep grass hill path, short but very boggy section through fire break, rough path through dense trees.
Distance: 15 km, duration 5 hrs, total ascent 470m to max. ht. 570m.
Start point: Todholes car park on the side of the B818 at north end of Carron Valley Reservoir.
OS Map Landranger 57 / Explorer 348, Grid ref: NS 672859.