Alva Woodland Park Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Alva is a Hillfoots town in Clackmannanshire, situated at the foot of the Ochil Hills between Menstrie and Tillicoutry. The town developed during the 18th and 19th centuries in association with textile mills powered by the Alva Burn. In the 1880s there were nine spinning mills all powered by steam and water. Knitwear is still produced and a working mill displays the craft of woollen making at the Mill Trail Visitor Centre. Other industries include publishing, engineering and industrial supplies.
St Serf's Parish Church was established in the 12th Century, the present building dating from 1632. In its churchyard is a fine mausoleum to the Johnstone family built in 1790 by Robert and James Adam who were employed in the remodelling of Alva House.
The Woodland Park is signposted from the main road and was formerly the grounds of the Alva House on the lower slopes of the Ochil Hills. There are way-marked woodland walks and a play area for younger children. Kids will have a great time in the woods with loads of criss-crossing paths.
After the Reformation, the local estate came into the ownership of the Erskine family. At the time the grandest residence in the area was a tower house built much earlier. In 1636 Sir Charles Erskine incorporated this into the much larger Alva House.
By the early 1800s Alva House had been purchased by the Johnstone family (local landowners). They greatly expanded it in about 1820. The house passed to Miss Carrie Johnstone in 1890, but on her death in 1929 it could not be sold. It was destroyed by being used for military target practice during World War II. In recent years a modern and more modest Alva House has been constructed in an imposing position to the east of the town.
An 18th Century icehouse and the walls of the kitchen garden still remain within the park. The Visitor Centre gives an insight into the formation of the Ochil Hills and the history of Alva House. The visitor centre within the nearby Farriers Hotel is open daily from April to October.
As I don’t appreciate finding caches in woods with awful GPS reception you’ll have to descend to the far SE edge of the woods where the cache is hidden under branches beside a really fat gnarly old tree. You don’t need to go into the field! Enjoy.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)