Getting There
Northbound route only
Leave the M9 at junction 11 and take the 4th exit onto the A9 signed Bridge of Allan.
Continue ahead on the A9. At Causewayhead Roundabout take the 1st exit by the William Wallace Pub onto Logie Road, brown signed Wallace Monument.
Continue to the car park for the Wallace Monument on the right hand side.
Return to M9 Junction 11
Turn left out of the car park.
At the roundabout take the 3rd exit signed A9 Bridge of Allan.
Continue on the A9 to rejoin the M9 at Junction 11.
Wallace Monument Cairn Walk
Length of walk: 30 minutes
This is an unashamedly touristic walk, as we’d never been to the monument before and were determined to have a look – even if Jem had to stay in the car while we did so.
But we’d forgotten how dog-friendly most of Scotland is, and so, right at the top of the monument hill is a fantastic dog walk.
Leave the car park and walk past the kiosk up the shuttle-bus road in the direction of the monument. Don’t be surprised to find a bagpiper perched on one of the twists in the road adding a musical accompaniment to the climb. Dogs’ appreciation of the sound can vary apparently, so keep dogs well away from the piper just in case.
At roughly half-way up the hill, take the very obvious footpath through the trees and this will bring you directly to the monument.
The view from the hilltop is stunning on a good day, with Stirling Castle and the river plain far down below. There are plenty of seats too if you need to take a breather. Dogs aren’t allowed in the monument itself, but the walk route can return here which is handy if some want to climb the extra 200-odd steps to the very top whilst the dog gets a walk.
The walk starts at an information board just a few steps back down the tarmac road. It’s quite a rough path, but clearly signed, and even on a busy day doesn’t seem to see many walkers. The direction is gently downhill, with a couple of benches well sited to tempt you to sit and muse over the comings and goings that this cairn has seen. It has been documented as an Iron Age hill fort site, and once away from the popular monument it’s worth sitting a while to take in the atmosphere and let the imagination run wild. Dogs won’t be bored, Jem went off on a sniffing binge here and whatever he found was evidently all-absorbing to the canine nose.
Keep following the path, a fence has been placed at one point to make the steep sides safer but do add the lead if your dog needs extra control.
Follow the path as it bears to the left and starts to climb gently uphill again and in a short while you’ll emerge at the information board at the start of the walk. Either return to the monument or continue to walk down the tarmac road to return to the car park.
Facilities
Free car park. Information kiosk and Monument ticket sales at car park level (with shuttle bus option). At the Monument: café, WCs (no disabled). Entry to Monument and its 246 steps to the top: £6.50 adults, open 1000-1800 in summer; winter hours vary.