Scotland4me.net Out and About

	Scotland4me.net	'Out and About'
'Clackmannanshire'
	Brief history - Clackmannanshire is Scotland in miniature it has magnificent scenery, a varied history and welcoming people. Set in the very heart of Scotland, with the stunning Ochil Hills in the background, it has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike. The town of Clackmannan was known for its weaving and glassmaking industries it also has a long associated history with the brewing industry. Other towns in the area are Alloa, Alva, Dollar, Stirling and Tillicoutry. In Tillicoultry you can find the old Harviestoun estate were Robert Burns visited in the summer of 1787, this is were during his stay he wrote 'The Banks of the Devon' and 'Fairest Maid on Devon Banks'. Today the town is best known for its large retail outlet, Sterling Furniture, based in the former Devonvale paper mill complex, as well as for the adjacent Sterling Mills shopping centre. Rolling hills, fast flowing rivers, busy towns and pretty villages together with towers and castles straight out of a Disney movie will gives you one of Scotland's best kept secrets, Clackmannanshire.
	Alloa Tower - dates from the 1300s this fine medieval tower house is one of the largest, best designed and constructed of its type in Scotland. It was completed by 1497 but was altered later. The interior is of special interest and consists of the original oak roof beams, medieval groin vaulting, a pit dungeon and the original internal well. It was the home of the distinguished Erskine family the Earls of Mar from the 15th century until around 1800. By the late 17th century a mansion house and other buildings had been added. The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1800 but the solid, constructed tower survived. Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust restored the tower carefully to its likely appearance in 1712, by which time many of the 6th Earl's improvements had been completed.
	Dollar Museum - opened in 1988 and has become a storehouse of local treasures and a marvellous resource of information. The Heritage Lottery Fund helped to double the museum's size and its facilities are much improved. In the permanent displays you can learn about the history of Dollar, the Academy and the coming and going of the railway. Reference material is available in the light and airy reading room on the first floor, for family and local history research and for children doing school projects. Temporary exhibitions are mounted each year on specific subjects of local interest.
	Gartmorn Dam Country Park and Nature Reserve - Clackmannanshire has a rich mining history and many signs of this heritage are still visible. One which is impressive is the Gartmorn Dam lying at the heart of the local Country Park and Nature Reserve. The 170 acre reservoir was engineered by Sir John Erskine the 6th Earl of Mar to power the pumps which drained his Sauchie mines. In present times Gartmorn is a peaceful retreat for people walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing or picnicing. There is an interesting path network throughout the area and the Park links many of these routes with local communities. The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is an important site for migratory wildfowl in the winter months.
	Tolbooth Cross - The Tolbooth in Clackmannan was erected in the late 16th century due to the wishes of William Menteith the local sheriff who was no longer inclined to hold prisoners in his own dwelling house. The only part that remains now is the belfry tower. Along side this is the ancient standing stone of Mannan which is associated with two stories, one of the Sea God Mannau and the other concerning Robert the Bruce's lost glove (or mannan). It is thought that this originally stood on an island in the River Forth. Nearby is the Mercat Cross, a solitary pillar bearing the arms of the Bruce family.
	Menstrie Castle - This Castle is home to a branch of the Clan MacAlister who anglicised their name to Alexander. Sir William Alexander born in 1567 was to become the first Earl of Stirling and chief founder of the colony of Nova Scotia in Canada. Nowadays, Menstrie Castle looks more like a large manor house and houses a commemoration room to the Baronets of Nova Scotia. The room is decorated with displays on the history of Nova Scotia along with painted armorials depicting the 109 Nova Scotian baronetcies created as a result. You will also find portraits of James VI, Charles I and Sir William Alexander.
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