Dollar Glen & Castle Campbell

This surprisingly clear Saturday afternoon was spent walking through Dollar Glen, the second time we tread this path. I remembered very little of the walk from the first walk, taken as a soggy, stubborn attempt on a very rainy 2016 Boxing Day. The contrast in my experiences of this place, I was surprised to find afterwards, very truly mimics the names of the two burns that unite to create Dollar Glen.

The Burns of Care and Sorrow frame Dollar Glen and, atop a small peak of the Ochil Hills, Castle Gloom standing in ruins - the once mighty Argyll outpost of Clan Campbell. The etymology for these place names is unclear, the stuff of forgotten legends featuring perhaps captive lovers, adulterous wives, political prisoners, and clan chieftains banished to the castle for challenging the might of the Campbells.

I am grateful my second visit is a careful, beautiful one (no sorrow to speak of) and we explore through the well maintained path through the glen.

Moss and lichen cover the walls of the glen, so green next to the bare brown of the winter branches. Yesterday’s rain flows down the burns, gushing over the many waterfalls along the way. Sun occasionally peeks through the clouds and dreamily lights the scene, giving credence to the myths and history of the place.

Finally we spot Castle Gloom (Castle Campbell, as it is less creatively known these days), and we hike up to the steep hill to explore the ruin. Although not quite as grand as Linlithgow Palace from this morning’s adventure, what is left of the castle is still impressive and interesting to explore.

Soon it’s time to leave and we head back down the other burn, turning over our shoulder to gradually watch Castle Gloom disappear behind the tree tops.

This walk is beautiful slice of Scotland – a glen, some waterfalls, a castle, managable hills and an intriguing history. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a short day out.