Clackmannan
The old county town on its hill, with a tolbooth of 1592, a mercat cross and the ancient Stone of Mannan.
Clackmannan is the small old town that gave the county its name, climbing a hill above the flat farmland of the Forth, and its short main street holds a group of monuments worth stopping for.
The tall tolbooth belfry was begun in 1592 at the request of the sheriff, William Monteith, who no longer wanted to keep prisoners in his own house, and it served as the county's jail and courthouse for two hundred years.
Beside it is the mercat cross of the 1600s, a single pillar with the arms of the Bruces, the lords of the burgh; the narrowing at its foot is said to be the work of prisoners' chains. Next to that stands the Stone of Mannan, the clach that gives the town its name, an ancient whinstone boulder tied to an old Celtic god, brought up to the square in 1883 and set on a tall plinth. A lane leads on up the hill to Clackmannan Tower.
The tolbooth, the mercat cross and the stone stand on the main street and can be seen at any time, free.
- Open
- Any time; free.
- Where
- Main Street, Clackmannan.
Main Street, Clackmannan.
Clackmannan TowerA tall tower house of the 1300s on the King's Seat hill above Clackmannan, built by a kinsman of Robert the Bruce.Under a mile1 min by road
Alloa TowerThe largest surviving keep in Scotland, the Erskines' tower at Alloa, where Mary, Queen of Scots spent part of her childhood.2 miles5 min by road
Sauchie TowerA plain, tall tower house of the 1430s built by the Schaws at Sauchie, where Mary, Queen of Scots came in 1565.3 miles8 min by road
Menstrie CastleMenstrie Castle is one of the oddest members of the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, found in the middle of a housing estate.6 miles12 min by road
The Wee Bookshop, DollarA small independent bookshop and coffee shop on Bridge Street in Dollar, strong on walking, the outdoors and Scotland.7 miles11 min by road
Places to stay near the town, and when each is next free.
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.