East Plantation

Wood, Forest in Stirlingshire

Scotland

East Plantation

View to Wind Farm Sheep huddled at edge of field — View to Wind Farm Credit: Jim Smillie

East Plantation is a picturesque woodland area located in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Known for its dense forests and natural beauty, it covers an expansive area of approximately 500 acres. The plantation is situated in the eastern part of Stirlingshire, in close proximity to the small village of Wood.

The landscape of East Plantation is characterized by a combination of mature trees, including oak, beech, and birch, which have created a diverse and thriving ecosystem. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife, such as deer, foxes, and an array of bird species, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.

Visitors to East Plantation can explore a network of well-maintained walking trails that wind through the woodland, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside. These trails cater to different fitness levels and provide opportunities for both leisurely strolls and more challenging hikes. Along the way, hikers can discover hidden waterfalls, tranquil ponds, and ancient ruins that add to the enchanting atmosphere of the area.

The plantation also serves as an important resource for the local community. It provides a sustainable source of timber for the forestry industry, contributing to the local economy. Additionally, East Plantation offers educational programs and workshops on forest management and conservation, ensuring the preservation of this natural treasure for future generations.

Overall, East Plantation in Stirlingshire is an idyllic woodland retreat, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its lush forests, abundant wildlife, and well-designed trails make it a haven for nature lovers and a valuable asset to the local community.

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East Plantation Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.920957/-3.7560203 or Grid Reference NS9071. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View to Wind Farm

Sheep huddled at edge of field

Jim Smillie

Turbine at Drumduff Windfarm

Not being one to pore over detailed maps before heading out I assumed that the three turbines at Drumduff were part of the larger development at Burnhead, just North of here. The small windfarm is situated on the site of a former opencast coal mine. It has all been tidied up pretty well but the landscape still betrays its past, and is quite spellbinding in an industrial way. On the whole I'm all in favour of windfarms, though if several were proposed in my immediate vicinity I would probably be as hypocritical as most people! Here it seems to add to the surroundings. I always think it helps if they exist amongst what would be interesting enough surroundings anyway; it's when they are located in relatively featureless areas that they are at their bleakest. It is getting increasingly difficult to find accurate information for free online about a particular windfarm - a lot of independent data sites now require a subscription. From what I can gather though, the height of the turbines to blade tip is around 120 metres and their combined power generation comes in at somewhere between 6 and 8.55MW. The electricity reaches the grid via a big substation at Avonbridge three or four miles away. As usual with windfarms the ownership is a bit complicated. A company called Green Power, based in Alloa, owns a company called Green Breeze Energy which owns and manages this windfarm only. The bank Santander seems to be involved behind the scenes, though, making up the majority of the board at present.

Ian Dodds

Farm Ruins at Burnhead

This farm was in use - or at the very least a farm was in use at this spot - for either about 200 years, or 400 years plus. The confusion arises because maps from around 1800 up until the first OS map surveyed in the 1850s refer to this place as Easter Burnhead (the layout of the buildings is pretty much the same now as on that first OS map), no doubt to differentiate it from the nearby Wester Burnhead which these maps also show. All subsequent maps, and most pertinently those before 1800, only show a Burnhead though. So it is certainly possible that Wester Burnhead was the original Burnhead, and impossible to prove one way or the other due to the small scale of the early mapping. The original Burnhead pre-dates the oldest available online map of the area, which was drawn up around 1590. Apart from descriptions of both Wester and Easter Burnhead in the OS naming books which were compiled alongside their initial maps - a kind of gazetteer for every local area - I have found absolutely nothing about Burnhead online. Nor are there any pictures. While I understand the reasons why ruins like this are hardly ever afforded protected status, as opposed to, say, an unimpressive jumble of stones next to a small grassy mound believed to date from the early mediaeval period - principally there are numerous still-standing versions of the former about, along with a great deal of contemporary writing - I do think a few of these should be designated in every local area as they do greatly enhance the wonder of exploring the countryside.

Ian Dodds

Burnhead Moss wind farm from the air

Some of the thirteen turbines at wind farm which is located west of Armadale.

Thomas Nugent

North-East Holehouse

There are four houses on the lands of Holehouse, and this one is marked on the map as North-East Holehouse in spite of the fact that it is south-west of Holehouse! The land in the low ground in front of the house looks very rushy and is probably wet.

Anne Burgess

Field at Holehouse

The field sloping up from the burn to Holehouse looks as if it has yielded a crop of hay or silage.

Anne Burgess

Burn near Holehouse

The burn is unnamed on the map. It drains the Black Loch into the River Avon. This is looking upstream from NS8971 : Bridge south of Holehouse.

Anne Burgess

Burn near Holehouse

The burn is unnamed on the map. It drains the Black Loch into the River Avon. This is looking downstream from NS8971 : Bridge south of Holehouse.

Anne Burgess

Easter Greenhill

Looking uphill to Easter Greenhill from NS8971 : Bridge south of Holehouse.

Anne Burgess

Holehouse

It looks as if the buildings at Holehouse have been restored or renovated for use as housing.

Anne Burgess

South and North-East Holehouse

The modern house nearer the camera is North-East Holehouse, and further away is South Holehouse.

Anne Burgess

Wester Holehouse

The map shows a road leading direct from here to Wester Holehouse, but the image shows that there is no longer such a road or track, just a rushy field.

Anne Burgess