Gartmorn Dam is a resevoir in Clackmannanshire, just west of Sauchie and about 5 miles north of the Kincardine Bridge.
A moderate walk of about 3 miles around a resevoir. The paths are quite easy and level. There is a visitor centre with a cafe called Dam Good Coffee, for that essential after walk drink, with outside, dog friendly seating.
For Satnav, the nearest postcode is FK10 3AZ.
From the M9, take the M876 turnoff for the Kincardine Bridge, then bear left over the Forth on the new Clackmannanshire bridge. Turn left at the 'T' junction, then take the second exit at the roundabout for Alloa. As you come into Alloa, you find a small roundabout, where you turn right for Gartmore Dam and Stirling Mills. Follow this road up to Sauchie, and as you reach the centre of the town you will see a right hand turn signposted Gartmorn Dam Country Park. Follow this road for just under a mile, until you come to the resevoir, then park near the visitor centre.
You can see a map of this suggested route here.
Starting from the visitor centre,
follow the pathway along the southern edge of the resevoir for about a mile, until you come to a 'T' junction. Turn left here and cross the mill lade on a small bridge, then head north up a farm track, past the farm, then on to a small wood.
Turn left again here and follow the footpath along the northern edge of the resevoir. At the end of the resevoir, the walkway goes up a couple of short concrete ramps, then passes between two bollards and back to the roadway. Now you will see the visitors centre again, on your left.
Gartmorn Dam is probably the oldest resevoir in Scotland. It was created in 1713 by building a horseshoe weir about 2 miles to the east at Forestmill. This raised the water level of the Black Devon river, some of which was diverted into a mill lade which fed water for 2 miles along to a boggy area at Gartmorn. This boggy area eventually filled up and created a head of water was then used to power pumps that were used to drain the coal mines in the area. This was just before the age of steam, when coal fired steam engines took over. The clean water was also fed down to Alloa where it provided power for industries and clean water for the breweries.
The Dam was commissioned by Sir John Erskine, the sixth Earl of Mar, but soon after, he supported the 1715 Jacobite Rising and as a result he had to flee abroad and lost his lands.
Poo bins available
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