Dykedale And Baxter's Loan

Waypoints

1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 61 m - Meet at the Haining Car Park, beside Dunblane Cathedral. Turn left up Braeport, pass the Community Centre and just after No.3 Braeport (Ardvreck), turn right and cut through Home Hill.
2. 2 : km 0.53 - alt. 80 m - Cross over Perth Road into Newton Loan, to the right of the Doubletree (Hydro) Hotel.
3. 3 : km 1.06 - alt. 100 m - At the top take the path straight ahead, cross Ochiltree and follow the road ahead. At the end of this road, cross and follow the path straight ahead to the next street (Dykedale).
4. 4 : km 1.23 - alt. 103 m - Turn right on Dykedale and, almost immediately, take the ascending path on the left to reach Newton Crescent. Veer right for a few metres, and then turn left into Leighton Avenue. Ahead, on the right is the track which leads to Dykedale. Pause briefly.
5. 5 : km 1.92 - alt. 168 m - You are now on the path going uphill to Dykedale Steading. On reaching the Steading pause for a short rest.
6. 6 : km 2.55 - alt. 167 m - Walk along the tarmac road and on reaching Sheriffmuir Road turn right, going downhill.
7. 7 : km 3.07 - alt. 130 m - At the junction with Glen Road turn right and walk downhill. Pass Ochlochy Park road, continue downhill and just after Craigewan bungalow, go through a gate into Ochlochy Park. Enter and have a banana break by the waterside.
8. 8 : km 4.06 - alt. 90 m - Head downhill through the park and take the track which goes between houses and emerges at the tennis courts. Pass in front of the club house, cross the golf course car park, turn left and shortly you come to a flight of steps with a green painted hand rail.
9. 9 : km 4.27 - alt. 79 m - Descend to the Perth Road, turn left and cross the road at the nobbly yellow slab, opposite the police station. Take the path down into the High Street.
10. 10 : km 4.69 - alt. 50 m - Cross the bridge over the Allan Water, walk up Bridgend and cross the pedestrian bridge over the railway.
11. 11 : km 4.9 - alt. 62 m - At the main road, Springfield Terrace, turn left and cross the road to join the Old Doune Road.
12. 12 : km 4.96 - alt. 62 m - Walk right up to the top of the road, pass Dunblane H.S. and join Baxter’s Loan on the left. Walk along the Loan, pass Wanderwrang Cottage, and then look out for a path off to the left, signed by a yellow arrow. Take this path, which passes in front of the cottage.
13. 13 : km 7.26 - alt. 87 m - Pass Hillside Farm Steading and, just round the corner, turn into the left at the public path. Cross over the field which runs parallel to Argyle Way and has a nice view over to Sheriffmuir.
14. 14 : km 7.45 - alt. 91 m - Climb over the stile, do not go right down a path, but climb to the road (Argyle Way) and follow it downhill to George Street.
15. 15 : km 7.91 - alt. 63 m - Go along George Street and at the end turn right down Old Doune Road to Springfield Terrace, cross the road, cross the railway line and go down Bridgend.
16. 16 : km 8.56 - alt. 52 m - The walk will stop at the bridge so that people who wish to go to shops and cafes can drift off at this point. However, for those who remain, the walk will cross the bridge, turn left down Mill Row and follow the riverside path, which ends in a short and steep ascent to the Cathedral and car park.
17. S/E : km 9.32 - alt. 60 m