Heritage Path of the Month.
The Wallace Road is our Heritage Path of the Month for August 2024, click here to view the details
More about The Wallace Road:
Starting from Glenfarg, head north along the B996, then take the left up the Wicks O’ Baiglie road. After about 1km take the left to Lochelbank, which is signposted Wallace Road. Keep to the left of the farm buildings and to the right of the farm house to reach the bottom of a steady climb towards an aerial. Keeping on this path, veer right when there is a junction. The track serves the wind turbines, but leave it circa NO124135 to head north. Cross another stile before the Dron Burn; the ruins of West Dron Hill Farm are just uphill from here. Stick to the right of the lochan and follow the track to the edge of the woodland as it goes downhill to join the road to West Dron Farm.
The route could be combined with the Path of Dron to create a circular walk, although that old drove road back to Glenfarg can be harder to find than this route.
OS Landranger 58 (Perth & Alloa, Auchterader)
The road is said to have been used in Roman times going back to the days of Agricola, but it is named after Sir William Wallace – many believe he led his troops this way during his campaigns against the occupying army of Edward I in the years 1297-1305. It is also thought that Mary of Guise and her daughter Mary Queen of Scots travelled this road as it was the most direct to Perth from Dunfermline.
King Charles I in 1632 came to Scotland to receive its crown. After his triumphal entry into Edinburgh, he visited Dunfermline, and then made his way to Perth riding on horseback with his retinue along this road. However, not that many years had passed when Oliver Cromwell led his Ironsides along this road to his intended attack on Perth in 1651.
Despite not being made up to take coaches, the Wallace Road was shorter than the maintained Wicks of Baiglie public road (which became the turnpike in 1753), so continued to be used by gentlemen on horse, harvest workers, smugglers and numerous other travellers. Robert Burns travelled this road in 1787 on his way from Invermay to Edinburgh, returning from a three week tour of the Highlands whilst in the height of fame.
Sir Walter Scott used the Wallace Road in 1796 to reach Invermay, a few miles west of here. He later recalled the view overlooking the hills and straths around Perth to the highlands beyond in the opening pages of his novel The Fair Maid of Perth, where he says that the summit of this old road is “one of the most beautiful points of view in Britain”. The view, he wrote, is from a spot called the Wicks of Baiglie now often confused with the Wicks of Baiglie road, but the road of that name is 2 miles to the east. Scott’s viewpoint used to be marked on Dron Hill with a plaque but only some associated ironwork remains.
More about Heritage Paths:
Learn about the history of some of the oldest transport routes in Scotland. Heritage Paths records the history of over 400 routes that criss-cross the Scottish landscape. From Roman Roads to Military Roads, find out how the route you are following came into being.
As well as historical information, you’ll find a modern-day route description along with start and finish details. Change the background mapping in our interactive viewer and time travel along your favourite Heritage Path from 1843 to today.