Though extremely well fortified, medieval Doune Castle was also very much a symbol of wealth and status as the courtyard palace of Robert Stewart, the 1st Duke of Albany. In 1975 it played the part of almost every castle that featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. More recently, it starred as the fictional Castle Leoch in US blockbuster Outlander, and doubled as Winterfell in Game of Thrones.
The sleepy village of Doune has taken such fame in its stride and its Main Street is delightfully serene. However, Doune was, in the 17th century, renowned for its manufacture of firearms — thanks to Thomas Caddell, who began his business here in 1646 and became perhaps the world’s best pistol-maker. (The first shot in the American War of Independence in 1775 is said to have been fired by a Doune pistol.)
Starting from the Main Street (Castle Hill car park is just off here), head east and drop past the Catholic church, before turning right onto the road signed for the castle. In 50m go right again to follow the access road to the castle, set picturesquely above the meandering River Teith.
Follow the track on the left side of the castle, bearing left beyond it to descend to metal gates at a water treatment plant — go left in front of them to take a path to a field. Keep left on an earth path which accompanies the Ardoch Burn until it joins the Teith. The grassy riverbanks make a good spot for a picnic and paddle, though be aware of strong currents. The river’s fast-flowing waters were perfect for the cotton mill just up-river at Deanston — designed by Richard Arkwright and in its early days at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution in Scotland with a model village and, for a while, its own currency. By the 19th century, 1,000 spinners and weavers worked there.
Turn right along the riverside path to head beneath the castle and through a kissing gate. Passing a paddock on the right, continue to a little stone-slab bridge. Beyond this the path rises, then runs between garden fences before meeting the A84 on the edge of Doune. Go right and follow the pavement to the Muir Hall; bear right here to descend past St Modoc’s Church, cross a bridge and climb to Doune’s Mercat Cross. Turn right along Main Street to return to the start.
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Information
Distance: 3.5kmTime: 1 hour
Terrain: Pavements, unsurfaced paths
Map: OS Explorer 366
Access: Buses from Stirling to Doune
Taken from Glasgow: Weekend Walks by Nick Drainey, published by Pocket Mountains. Readers can get a 10 per cent discount and free P&P with the code Times, at pocketmountains.com
