This is the quaint single-track unclassified road, that winds its way across the whole of Sheriffmuir, from Bridge of Allan and Logie Kirk at the southern end, to Greenloaning in the north. These pictures were taken within 2 kilometres of the join of the wee roads from Bridge of Allan and Logie Kirk. This road provides a very popular scenic drive / cycle ride; we estimate that more than 100,000 people use it in this way each year.
The Cock's Burn, with Cocksburn Wood and Ashentrool hill in the background.
The proposals would have the construction track and the new pylons running about 200 metres to the left of the road.
Cocksburn Reservoir is off to the right of this picture; Dumyat is off to the left. The proposals would locate two new pylons here, to the right of the road and just off the edge of this picture.
The Dumyat / Cocksburn Reservoir area is the most visited part of the Ochil Hills, with some 45,000 visitors annually coming here to enjoy a range of outdoors activities, most importantly walking, but also running, mountain biking, picnicking, photography, fishing and bird watching.
Activities centre on a 300 metre stretch of the Sheriffmuir road, where most visitors park their cars. The tracks to Dumyat start here, and continue for 2.5 kilometres to the right (east) of the road; the path to the Cocksburn Reservoir goes off to the left (west).
The beautiful mature beech tree pictured here stands right beside the car parking area. Unfortunately, the proposed power line would go virtually over the top of it, and the tree would have to be felled to give clearance to the line.
This stretch of road would also be used for construction traffic and might become unusable for months or years, during the construction phases.
The walk up Dumyat starts directly from the road, as pictured here. On the way down, walkers enjoy panoramic views to the west, across the road to the Cocksburn Reservoir and beyond to a range of 14 Munro hills.
The proposals would insert a new pylon approximately at the position of the photographer, and two others in close proximity. At present, there is just one, much smaller pylon in this particular area and it doesn't intrude on the view to the Reservoir.
Castle Law, the southwestern top of Dumyat, as seen from the Sheriffmuir road.
This picture includes part of the existing, much smaller power line: a pylon is hidden behind the pine tree. In sharp contrast, the new pylons would be so tall that they would all stand out starkly and massively against the sky.
The view across the Cocksburn Reservoir to Ben Vorlich, as seen from much of the descent of Dumyat, and also from the Sheriffmuir road.
The proposals would insert the line of new pylons, up to 56 metres high, as well as heavy duty access tracks and construction sites round each pylon, between the road and the Reservoir. The existing, lower voltage power line runs the other side of the Sheriffmuir road, and is much less intrusive in views.
Cocksburn Reservoir provides an easy and popular walk, with access from both the Sheriffmuir road and from the western end, near Bridge of Allan.
Views from the walks round the Reservoir include this one to the northeast, of Cocksburn Wood, with Colsnaur Hill behind.
This view is currently blighted to a degree by the existing 132 kV power line, but the proposed 400 kV line, with pylons up to two and a half times as high as the existing ones - close to the height of the Wallace Monument - as well as all the accompanying construction works, would be very much more intrusive.
The 18th century Sheriffmuir Inn sees the start and finish of extensive annual clan gatherings and re-enactments marking the anniversary of the Battle of Sheriffmuir. In 2005, some 200 people gathered from all over Scotland to join in the proceedings.
People from a number of clans across the world raised their voices in protest at the proposals to route the new power line right through the site of the famous Battle.
The Memorial (pictured above) to the members of the Clan Macrae lost in the Battle, and the Gathering Stone that marks the centre of the lines drawn up by the opposing sides before battle was engaged, are visited by thousands of visitors throughout the year, as well as those marking the Battle's anniversary.
The graveyard at the Old (ruined) Kirk at Logie is renowned for its antiquity and interest, with grave stones dating back to the sixteenth century. It lies a little way up the steep southern slopes of the Ochil Hills, beside Yellowcraig Wood. Witches Craig, behind, is a prominent feature on this beautiful hill side, which features so prominently in views from the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, and provides a stunning backdrop to the City of Stirling and the Hillfoot villages.
The proposal is to site the new power line some 50 metres from this graveyard, in the direction of view of this picture.
The line would go equally close to the much used cemeteries at the newer Logie Kirk, a few hundred metres down the hill. It is hard to see how funerals could take place during the construction period, because the work would be so intrusive.
Yellowcraig Woods clothe the steep slopes of the Ochil Hills above Logie Kirk, and form part of the iconic views of those slopes. Owned privately, they are being actively managed to maintain and restore their ancient character, and are dedicated as community woodland.
The proposals would bring the new power line right down through the wood. A hugely visible swathe would have to be cut through the wood, to accommodate access tracks, construction sites, and the pylons, and to give a clearance corridor for the line. This would be visible for miles, and would draw the eye inexorably to the massive pylons.
The existing pylons, though ugly, stand up to their waists or higher in the woodland, which has grown back to a great extent in the 50 years since that line was constructed.
The new pylons, being up to two and a half times higher - close to the height of the Wallace Monument - as well as broader and deeper, would be massively more visible. Their visibility would be further highlighted by the clearance of so much of the vegetation for construction works.
Stirling University, seen here from Yellow Craig, in the Wood, identifies its wonderful location as one of the key reasons for people to choose to study there.
Yellowcraig Wood forms a significant part of the views from Airthrey Castle (part of the University) and the gardens (listed as a Historic Designed Garden). The devastation that would be caused to the wood by the proposed power line would greatly damage the views enjoyed by the University.
Here's an example of how the new and old pylons might compare. This picture was taken near Plean, and shows where a 132kV power line (with the much smaller pylon on the right of the photo) crosses two high-voltage lines, with much bigger pylons. The small pylon is comparable to those that have been in place in the Ochils for the last 50 years; the large ones are what we are threatened with.
Photo courtesy of Terence O'Byrne
A crucial aspect of our objections to the proposals for the new power line is its huge scale.
The hills at the western end of the Ochils are just small; the landscapes are small scale and often intimate. They are, it is true, damaged to a degree by the existing 132 kV power line, and we would like to see that line removed or put underground, as is starting to happen in areas of similar value in England.
But the Ochils landscapes simply cannot accommodate the huge pylons required to carry high voltage cables, without losing a great deal of their value as landscapes and as the places where so many people, from across Scotland's central belt, and from afar, come to enjoy their tranquillity and timelessness.
For Scottish & Southern Energy's Proposals see:
Details
of Scottish & Southern Energy's Proposals
also this link to Stirling before Pylons web site.
