The start of this route is very obvious from the north as it it follows a firm-bottomed landrover track for the first 1km. The route heads due south and then zig-zags up the steep face of the hill, at first on the west side of the Dron Burn. Public use is clearly expected by the owner, in that a notice on a shed shortly after the start asks for dogs to be kept on leads on account of farm stock. There is a strong "draw" to follow the tractor-track all the way, as it climbs at a gentle gradient after the initial steep ascent, presents no tempting or confusing turn-offs and leads generally in the desired direction. It continues well beyond the point shown on the 1:50,000 OS map, eventually petering out circa NO132145. However, the true line of this old route, as shown on OS maps of several editions, at NO135151 becomes a footpath only and crosses the Dron Burn then climbs up above it on the east side, through pines and gorse before emerging on the high west shoulder of Balmanno Hill. This path also peters out, circa NO135143 at a stand of pines, where an old rusty metal kissing-gate, now wired into the fence, indicates that this is indeed the old line. Whichever route has been taken to reach this point, one now crosses open grazing fields to reach the west side of the wood in grid square 13* 13*. At its SW corner, at a stock shed, one can pass round the end of the wood and join a vehicular track running SE to the public road at NO138128. This is the most straightforward end to the route nowadays, in that between Lustylaw and Scarrhill the old line is interrupted by fields and the route has become indistinguishable. Our surveyor also reported that he found the right of way now feels uncomfortably close where it passes by Scarrhill. However, clues to the old line remain in the form of stiles into and out of the NW-SE wood at NO133130.

If successfully navigated along one variant or another, this route can be combined with the Wallace Road to make a circular walk.

OS Landranger 58 (Perth & Alloa, Auchterarder)