EK News Article by Eric Kent: The latest Duncanrig Ramblers walk was in Stirlingshire. The main walk is from Todholes at the western end of the Carron reservoir over the Gargunnock Hills to the Village of Gargunnock in the Forth valley near Stirling. The Alternate walk started at Todholes and continued into the Gargunnock hills up to the last wind turbine in the combined Cringate Law and Earlsburn Wind Farms. This walk returned back to Todholes by the same route. The main walk commenced at Todholes adjacent to the Carron Valley Reservoir which was completed in 1939 after three years construction work. This reservoir covers an area of around 1000 acres and supplies a number of towns in the surrounding area. The reservoir is extremely well known for the quality of its brown and rainbow trout fishing.  Leaving Todholes the walk followed the rough access roads up through the hills past the numerous wind turbines and at the last wind turbine we could look back and get fine views of Meikle Bin 570m and also the two small Earlsburn Reservoirs. From the last wind turbine we travelled over a combination of rough ground and track until we reached the Carleatheran Hill Cairn. The name has an early Briton connection and the map indicates it is an ancient monument. Some research indicated that the name ‘Car’ or Caer indicates a fort while Leath means Gray hence the name grey fort. This could be correct as the area is covered with stones and a very old shelter. The location is a magnificent viewpoint. We continued long sharp basalt escarpment in the general direction of Stirling but unfortunately due to the very poor visibility we missed seeing at their best the staggering views over the flat expanse of Flanders Moss, Kippen and the infant Forth meandering towards Stirling and the Ochil Hills. As a backdrop further north, Ben Vorlich, Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Ledi are just three peaks that dominate the skyline on a clear day and can be a magnificent sight at this time of year with their winter snow covering. The vast peat bog of Flanders Moss covered most of the forth valley beyond Stirling before reclamation work began in 1767. Started by Lord Kames, who offered Highlanders, called the 'moss lairds', land provided they cleared their holding of moss, by washing it into the Forth. This venture was highly successful and turned much of the Moss into valuable farm lands. The remnants of Flanders Moss are now a National Nature Reserve. The walk along the escarpment was easy along a rough grass track at the edge of the heather moor where many grouse were noted during the walk. We left the escarpment via a rough road very winding used to transport shooting parties up to the grouse butts on the moor in season and continued down past Hillhead Farm and on into Gargunnock Village. The earliest known settlement in the village is an Iron Age farmstead on Keir Hill now in the care of the National Trust.  Legend has it that William Wallace set out from the village to successfully capture the Peel of Gargunnock, a fortified strongpoint held by the English, guarding a crossing point on the River Forth.  By the time Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through in 1745, on his journey south to Derby, the village was well established supporting a population of four hundred weavers, masons, joiners, a shoemaker and a tailor. The walk finished at the village square where the coach was waiting with the alternate walkers who had completed their walk an hour or so earlier.  The social hour was enjoyed by all at Bannockburn before the journey back to East Kilbride.