Eight new day-long trails launched to explore the Inner Forth

Eight new day-long walks and cycles exploring the unique landscape and heritage of the Inner Forth, plus a mega Round the Forth route, have just been launched by Inner Forth Futures, a partnership of local authorities and national organisations.

Image: Doug Shapley Photography/IFF

The trails, called the Inner Forth Wanderings and Windings, range from 11-mile rambles to a challenging 35-mile long cycle. They use existing paths and tracks to encourage local people and visitors to the area to explore the landscape and discover some of the many hidden gems to be found around the Inner Forth. The routes include nature hotspots, historic buildings, riverside views, cultural landmarks and simply places to escape from the bustle of urban life.

Trail guides for all the routes, plus the round the Forth ninth route, incorporating elements from all the trails, are available to download free from https://www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk/about/wanderings-windings, along with GPX files to help people navigate the routes from their smart phone or GPS devices.

The Wanderings and Windings project, led by Inner Forth Futures, a partnership of Fife, Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, plus Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, Sustrans and Central Scotland Green Network Trust, has been funded through a £47,000 award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with an overall value of £67,000.

Inner Forth Futures appointed Ian White Associates Landscape Architects to develop and deliver the trails. They ran 12 co-design workshops to work with local communities to design the routes and identify the key points of interest along the way.

A celebratory video has also been released, created by pupils from Falkirk High School, in conjunction with film makers D Fie Foe. You can watch it via the Wanderings & Windings page of the Inner Forth Futures website.

If people would still like to get more involved, IFF have a Facebook Group called Inner Forth Wanderings and Windings, which they can request to join.

For more information please contact the Inner Forth Futures team, info@innerforthlandscape.co.uk,  telephone 01324 831 568.