Two Bridges Over The Forth (W), Central Scotland

Two Bridges Over The Forth (W)

I've already posted a series of videos that take you clockwise around the Forth by heading East over the Kincardine bridge and then back via Forth Road bridge (the complete video is here).  This video also takes you clockwise around the river Forth but by starting heading West.  We cross the Forth initially by the footbridge at Cambuskenneth (South to North) on the outskirts of Stirling and then return via the new Clackmannanshire Bridge (North to South) outside Kincardine.

The ride starts from Larbert, just outside Falkirk.  It follows National Cycle Route 76 and is therefore mostly on dedicated cycle paths. The route takes you through the small village of Cowie before traversing paths that take you through flat farmlands with fantastic views of Stirling Castle, Wallace's Monument and the Ochil hills.  You then cross the River Forth via the footbridge at the lovely small village of Cambuskenneth before continuing North to the village of Causewayhead in the shadow of Wallace's Monument before turning East toward Manor Powis and then the village of Cambus which merges into the much large town of Alloa. The ride then passes in the shadow of Alloa Tower a gorgeous tower house built in the 14th century.

The ride then continues from Alloa along National Cycle Route 764 before re-joining route 76 through the lovely historic village of Clackmannan stopping briefly at Kennetpans in sight of the Clackmannan Road Bridge just outside Kincardine. I stopped briefly there to read the sign about the world's first commercial whisky distillery that I didn't know was on my doorstep! Hopefully, you don't mind the small rest?

From there the ride takes you from Clackmannanshire on the North side of the Forth to Stirlingshire on the South side via the new Clackmannan Road bridge.  There's then a short trip through the flat farmlands beside the aptly named village of Skinflats before heading West alongside the river Carron before crossing the river via the new Abbotshaugh Bridge and then heading East to finish that the Helix Park with its iconic Kelpie statues.

If doing this ride all in one is too much, you can do it as four individual shorter rides here:

• Larbert to Stirling
• Stirling To Alloa
• Alloa to Kincardine
• Kincardine to the Kelpies