Mid Scotland

I think this was at Dunmore near Airth. Presumably this is the old superstition of the lucky horse shoe taken one stage further.

A 'folly' built in the shape of a pineapple at Airth near Kincardine on the River Forth.

Moving further back from the picture above. Now you can see how large the area is. A red filter was used to darken the blue sky and emphasise the clouds.

A telephoto shot of the pineapple shape.

The road from Breich to Forth

A print of this won me my first award at the Edinburgh Photographic Society, in the beginners section. I think I gave it about a 6 second exposure.

Interesting shadow patterns on this storage tank, somewhere at Grangemouth. I rescanned the negative in 2005 to provide a larger picture,

Near the village of Skinflats beside Grangemouth. Longannet power station is on the other (North) side of the River Forth.

I have no idea of the purpose of this construction, or how it came to be damaged the way it is. Something to do with the Second World War, perhaps.

Taken from near the Kincardine Bridge over the River Forth in the mid to late 1970s. Grangemouth is visible in the distance.

One of the families of swans which lived on the Union Canal near Polmont.

This west-facing view shows the Union Canal where the aqueduct carries it over the River Avon.

Showing the plant-life which has colonised the stonework.

This passenger-carrying boat leaves from Linlithgow and visits the aqueduct. There's a pleasant walk between Polmont and Linlithgow, too.

Across the other side of the canal is this large pool. This is on the Polmont side of the aqueduct.

At the southern edge of the Ochil Hills is the town of Dollar. There's a spectacular walk up the glen, part of which is shown here.

From the castle at the top of Dollar Glen, is this view down the glen to Dollar.

Everything was all ready; you just switched on the kettle and helped yourself. '20p for a cup of tea' says the hand-written notice.

Stirling Castle is built on top of volcanic rock eroded by glaciers. There is a 'valley' near the top where there are ancient cemeteries. This picture was taken from the west side, near to the Back Walk footpath.

In this shot, taken from the top of Ladies' Rock, we're looking over the top of two cemeteries towards Stirling Castle. The rock got its name from the ladies who, in ancient times, had a grand view of the royal tournaments taking place below in what later became the graveyard.

The Star Pyramid, symbolic of religious doctrines, was erected to commemorate martyrs for religious freedom.

Stirling Old Bridge over the River Forth was built in the late 15th century. It was a nearby wooden bridge where Sir William Wallace defeated the English in 1297.

The view up-river from the bridge pictured above. The Wallace Monument can be seen in the distance at the right of the photograph.

This is the first of several views of and from the Wallace Monument. First opened in 1869, it stands 220 feet high and has 246 steps to the top.

From the top of the monument, this is the view towards Stirling Castle on a day with hazy sunshine. The River Forth can be seen below.

The river meanders across its flood plain, creating giant loops. The land inside this loop is called Queenshaugh. (Black and white image)

Another monochrome treatment of the same subject, but this time the camera is zoomed in on the narrow neck of land which prevents Queenshaugh from becoming an island. Its island status wouldn't last of course - an oxbow lake would form.

Part of the monument in the foreground matches the curvature of the meandering Forth in the middle distance, whilst further away Stirling Castle sits atop the classic 'crag and tail' created by a glacier. Edinburgh Castle sits on a similar geological feature.

As well as the statue and crest, this view of the monument shows the spiral staircase on the left of the building, and the stonework above the stairs leading up to it from the entrance. This is a most attractive building, with some innovative ideas. Edinburgh's Scott Monument is very symmetrical in comparison.

The camera is tilted higher up and is zoomed in to reveal the detailed stonework. This is, in my opinion, an exquisite building that Scots can all be proud of.

This is a large image showing most of the tower from close up. You won't be able to display this image actual-size on a regular HD monitor without scrolling.

From further away we can see more of the magnificent structure. The building in the foreground is actually part of the whole monument and houses a café. If you've already climbed up Abbey Craig then you'd be well advised to rest here a while before climbing up those 246 steps.

This shot shows more detail of the top of the monument. There's a visitor admiring the view from above, and his presence gives an idea of the scale of the building. This is the last picture in this sequence.

Back in Stirling again where the sunshine has burned the mist away. This is Ladies' Rock.

The mist has cleared and the Ochil Hills are clearly visible behind Abbey Craig and the monument. To the left of the River Forth is Causewayhead Road and a disused branch of the main Edinburgh to Dunblane railway line.

Another photograph of the Star Pyramid. The silver birch tree is not yet in leaf; its delicate branches contrast with the stone structure.

Back at Stirling railway station where a large notice proclaims 'Town Centre Expansion Development'. Stirling already has exceptionally good shopping facilities. Watch this space for forthcoming developments coming beside the Forth.

This tractor tyre has been painted white with red, yellow and blue treads. It decorates the opposite platform and may be some kind of art exhibit. Great things are afoot nearby so it may not be here for much longer.

At the eastern end of the town, not far from Stirling University, stands this disused building. It's a listed building, where The Beatles once played back in the early '60s. Thanks to Stuart Rorrison for that info.

A close-up view of the main door - with a tree now growing from its base.

The decorative turret of this building caught my eye when walking from the railway station towards the university. It looks as if the Costcutter store has failed here. Not surprising considering the neighbourhood of highly desirable properties.

In contrast with the three previous pictures, this image gives a more flattering conventional view. The Westerton Arms is across the road.

Looking down on the Wallace Monument and Stirling from the western slopes of Dumyat Hill. Part of Stirling University can be seen at the right of the picture.

Further up the ridge is this view of a bend in the River Forth. A Solitary tree is perched on a rocky slope.

Looking uphill to the east. Even although it's a sunny July day, recent rain has made this area somewhat squelchy, and the woman and her dog must detour around the wettest bits.

A south west view from Dumyat. Looking over Castle Law we can see the Wallace Monument in the centre of the picture.

A Hang glider has taken off from the summit and is riding the thermals before descending to a field near Menstrie.

At the summit is this regimental shield apparently made from concrete and painted in different colours. The metal basket on top of the cemented cairn is for a fire to serve as a beacon. The Ochil Hills stretch out behind. On the horizon at the right, Knock Hill stands above the surrounding countryside.

Tullibody, Alloa and Kincardine are small towns built on the River Forth's floodplain. The Bathgate Hills and the Pentland Hills are on the horizon south of the Firth of Forth, obscured by haze.

Same standpoint as the previous picture but zoomed in for a closer look at Kincardine Bridge which crosses the Forth, just before the river widens to become the Firth of Forth. Smoke comes from the chimneys at Alloa. Waste heat comes from the cooling towers at Grangemouth at the right of the picture, behind the tidal mudflats.

Near top centre is the path at the head of Tillicoultry's Mill Glen. The Daiglen Burn is visible below in this picture. To its left is the footpath up which you must scramble.

Once you're up here then the reward is this view, and there's no more difficult scrambling involved. The path is clearly defined through the bracken.

Higher up and another shot looking back down at Tillicoultry. The path climbs steeply up the ridge of The Law (638m) before a more gentle climb up Ben Cleuch, the highest point of the Ochils.

Approaching the summit of Ben Cleuch from the south and looking across to distant mountains. Sunlight plays through the broken clouds and the light changes constantly. Behind the source tributaries of Millglen Burn can be seen the rounded top of Ben Ever.

Excellent views of the Forth from up here. Kincardine Bridge is dead centre in this picture. The cooling towers of Grangemouth can be seen to the left, behind the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth.

The River Forth meanders across its flood plain. The two river islands visible are Inch (behind Alloa) and Tullibody Inch further to the right.

Further upstream, this meander resembles the Greek letter omega.

On the way down from Ben Cleuch the path descends Ben Ever and meets up with a wider track below, to the west of Silver Burn. If walking the opposite way from Alva then it's very easy to miss the path up Ben Ever.

The rest of the journey down to Alva is quite easy. In this picture the outline of the Pentland Hills can be seen to the south of the Firth of Forth.

I revisited Stirling in June 2012 and found this new footbridge which crosses over the railway station and all its tracks. One end is between the bus station and train station; the other end is at Forthside Way which leads to the Peak Sports Centre about a mile away.

Looking down on the train tracks in Edinburgh's direction.

The view from the bridge looking back at the town centre to the west.

The steps leading up to the east end of the bridge. There may once have been a functioning lift.

The old buildings between the railway station and the River Forth are being preserved for future regeneration of the area. Meantime there's riverside walks and the Sports Centre.

From Forthside Way, the view back to town.

Stirling Castle as seen from Forthside Way, looking over one of the of the river's many meanders.

Zoomed in on Stirling Castle.

Forthside Way has a dedicated cycle track between the footpath and the road. There are no hills here because it's on the floodplan, the river's meanders hopefully long since tamed.

Approaching the sports centre.

You can't lock the door or remove the key until you insert a £1 coin. When you remove the key after locking the door the coin drops ready for reuse when you unlock again. So it costs you nothing but you do need a £1 coin.

The absence of any seating made the sound of the music rather harsh, reverberating from what seemed to be a home stereo in the far corner. There was a balcony at this end with tables and chairs behind the windows.