Clackmannan to Culross

I've filmed a few videos now that finish up in the gorgeous historic town of Culross (pronounced koo-ross) but this route, with the downhill finish over the narrow cobblestone streets, is my very favorite. But before we get there we've some other interesting sights to take in.

The ride starts just outside the village of Clackmannan with an easy run over some flat farmland roads alongside the River Forth with plenty of wildlife (buzzard, kestrel, hares, rabbits, and Henry the sheep!). The entry into the village of Clackmannan (Clach Mhanainn in Gaelic) itself always reminds me, on a sunny day, of the South of France with its medieval church and line of poplar trees leading up to it. There's a small incline to get onto the village and then you pass the village square with its phallic-like pagan monument, the Stone of Mannan.

From there we leave the village and take the long straight path that was once the Alloa to Dunfermline railway line, now 16kms of National Cycle Route 764. Although it looks flat it's a long slow upward climb but over such a distance you do not notice it. We don't go all the way to Dunfermline though as we leave at Gallows Loan to take the public road over the hill to Culross.

As we enter the town, we pass Culross Abbey founded in 1217 on the left before arriving at the Mercat Cross and the picturesque narrow cobbled streets and tiny houses. The ride finishes as we leave these streets having passed the Town House used in the filming of Outlander and then the spectacular bright yellow (I'll leave you to Google how it becomes that color!) Culross Palace.

If you ever visit Scotland, you definitely should put Culross on your must-see list.

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