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The Association of British Counties

Gazetteer of
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Clackmannanshire, Scotland

Clackmannanshire is a maritime county, on the north bank of the River Forth, between Perthshire and Fife. Britain's smallest county, "The Wee County" is a countrified county of farms and small settlements.

Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 56.149241,-3.765382
Grid Reference: NS904965
Country: Scotland
 Explore Clackmannanshire on Wikishire

The Ochil Hills lie in Strathdevon in the northern part of the county. These pretty hills are green with pasture, broken in places with jutting rocks and deeply indented ravines. Here are the greatest hills of Clackmannanshire including Ben Cleuch (2,365 feet) – the county top.

The River Devon flows from east to west across the county, at the foot of the Ochil Hills. The river is noted for its romantic scenery and its excellent trout-fishing. The Hillfoots Villages lie at the base of the southern scarp face of the Ochil Hills, between the hills and the Devon. Dollar lies at the eastern end of the county. A highlight is the imposingly sited Castle Campbell, overlooking the chasm of Dollar.

Castle Campbell 15
Castle Campbell

Tillicoultry was a mining and textile village, now largely a commuter village. Alva developed as a textile manufacturing town. The most prominent building in Alva is Strude Mill, a former woollen mill that stands above the town. Menstrie lies in the far west of the county. Menstrie Castle is a three-storey castellated house. There is a fine Old Bridge over the Mentrie Burn. Below Menstrie, the Devon turns south for a short distance before flowing into the River Forth at Cambus.

Menstrie Castle, at the Foot of the Ochil Hills
Menstrie Castle with Ochil Hills behind

South of the River Devon, the land is low-lying with small towns and some industry. The Black Devon rises in the Cleish Hills and flows south across the east of the county, reaching the Forth south of Clackmannan.

The county's biggest town Alloa lies on the Forth. Formerly a major port, the local economy is now centred on retail and leisure. Alloa Tower is one of the largest and earliest of Scottish tower houses, retaining it original mediæval wooden roof and battlements. West of Alloa is Tullibody, a former mining town now mainly a commuter town. Tullibody Old Kirk is a ruined 12th-century church.

Tullibody Old Kirk
Old Kirk, Tullibody

The county town, Clackmannan, lies south-east of Alloa. The name of the town refers to the Stone of Manau or Stone of Mannan, a pre-Christian monument that can be seen in the town square beside the Tollbooth Tower, which itself dates from 1592.

Paterson 2007 agryfp clackmannan-stone-person 010620071942
The Stone of Mannan

The precise date at which Clackmannanshire became a sheriffdom is uncertain. In 1263 it appears to have been part of the sheriffdom of Stirling. However, Clackmannanshire was listed as a separate sheriffdom in the Ordinance issued by Edward I of England in 1306 for the Government of Scotland, with Sir Malcolm of Inverpefer being listed as sheriff. Clackmannanshire became known for the weaving mills powered by the Hillfoots burns. Other industries included brewing, glass manufacture, mining and ship building. Now capitalising on its central position and transport links, Clackmannanshire attracts service industries and tourism.