JASPER AND TOMMY'S ADVENTURES IN SCOTLAND: Kinneil Nature Reserve and Bo'ness, Falkirk

Jasper and Tommy tussle over a stick along the route! Grangemouth Oil Refinery sits in the background on the left with the Ochil Hills on the right (click/tap to enlarge image).

Bo'ness or Borrowstounness, to give it its full name, is an attractive town in the Falkirk council area, that sits on the south bank of the Firth of Forth. This walk takes us from the Kinneil Nature Reserve, along the Forth and out past Bo'ness Harbour. Much of the route is part of the long-distance John Muir Way, that runs 130 miles, from Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute in the west to Dunbar, East Lothian in the east. You might be relieved to hear that our walk, is just 4 miles long in total though!

The area has a coal mining heritage but has been transformed with woodland and meadows over the years and it's a lovely place for a walk with the dogs. It's a mostly there and back walk with circular sections around the nature reserve and around the Forth near the harbour. You'll find toilets at Bo'ness, along with a Tesco and plenty of places to grab a bite / drink.

The area is quite popular, including amongst cyclists, so watch out for them along the cycle path sections of the route. The Bo'ness steam railway runs along the route too and is in operation between April and October, with occasional special events at other times. Some parts of the railway are not especially well fenced in and the level crossing pedestrian gates are easy for curious dogs to get through on their own, so be aware of that. There are also mudflats along the route where we pass an island. That said, there were plenty of opportunities for Jasper to get off the lead. Tommy spent more time off lead anyway, as he has the "velcro" cavalier trait and doesn't wander very far!

The walk starts at the Kinneil Nature Reserve car park at the end of Snab Lane. You can find a Google Maps link to the car park, route maps and GPX navigation file at the end of the article. Information is current as of our last visit in July 2022. All images can be clicked / tapped to enlarge them.

Follow the cycle path at the end of the car park into Kinneil Nature Reserve (click/tap to enlarge image)

Stick to the cycle path as it bears right and follows the railway down to the level crossing. Cross the railway, keeping an eye out for the steam train.

Follow Tommy down the rough left hand path, sign posted "Nature Reserve Circular Path". Stick to the path and avoid branching off it.

When the path forks, take the left hand track

The route runs along the Forth and there are picnic spots dotted around with some lovely views

As the route circles around the reserve, we come to a tidal island. You can walk the perimeter of the island but it's a bird nesting area that is not best suited to dogs and care needs to be taken to avoid getting cut off by the tide.

The path continues towards Bo'ness. Mind the mudflats on the left. They have Jasper's name all over them, so it's back on the lead for him!

When the path forks, take the left hand branch. Tommy knows the way!

The track comes out on the cycle path, where we turn left towards the town

At the attractive bird hide installation, we branch left off the cycle path and follow the track along the Forth

The path comes out at a grassy area with more picnic benches. Bo'ness Old Kirk dominates the skyline ahead. We re-join the cycle path here and follow it left along the Forth.

The Forth and Bo'ness

If it's operating, you will likely see the steam train several times running back and fore along the route

The route continues through a wide grassy area alongside the town centre, where we once again see the steam train

You'll see that the railway can be crossed here and it's worth taking a detour into the attractive town, where you'll find plenty of places to eat and drink and also toilet facilities (public toilets are located at the Register Street car park near Farm Foods). The town boasts some lovely historic churches and other buildings. Highlights include The Hippodrome, Scotland's oldest surviving purpose built cinema that dates from 1912 and Dymock's Building, a 17th century merchants house. Both buildings have been restored.

Looking back towards the town and its mining wheel memorial

The path continues along the Forth, through more green open areas. Some interesting rock sculptures can be seen along the way.

A cloudy day but visibility is still good. The town of Culross can be seen across the water. Culross is another place well worth visiting that I shall write about at some point. The Ochil Hills dominate the view, with the Trossachs sitting behind them, to the left. If you know where to look and you have good eyes, you can just about make out the National Wallace Monument in the foreground of the Trossachs.

The path takes us through Bo'ness harbour, where you can walk out to take advantage of the views. Looking back towards the town, you can see a distinct yellow painted buoy on the left. Ahead of us lies the ochre coloured, "Dymock's Building" mentioned earlier.

Carry on through the harbour to the dock and turn left across the bridge

View of Bo'ness dock. The Museum of Scottish Railways can be seen over the other side of the dock.

Our route follows the Forth, along the cycle path. Here we see Tommy and Jasper in a rare moment where they are both amenable to posing for a snap at the same time!

We come to a viewing point with another bird hide. There's a great view down to the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Bridges. The dockyards of Rosyth can be seen the other side of the Forth.

Keep following the cycle path and avoid branching off. When the path meets a left hand turn, bear right.

Turn left at the edge of the dock, towards the railway museum

Bo'ness station at the Museum of Scottish Railways

You'll pass the Museum of Scottish Railways on the left hand side. The museum is run by and sits within the wider site of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. As you would expect, the museum is not dog friendly but the society also runs the steam train from here, along the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway. Dogs are permitted on the regular service.

Whilst the wife and dogs were resting with some refreshments, I had a quick wander around the free part outside the museum, where you can view some of the old trains. You can also go in the engineering workshop which has a great viewing area and you can watch old engines being restored. More information about the railway and museum is available at their website here.

Our route turns right just past the museum. You'll see a pedestrian bridge over the railway that provides another opportunity to take a detour into the town. You'll also find Tesco here with toilets inside the store. To continue on with our walk, go straight down to follow the left hand edge of the dock. At the far side of the dock, keep straight on to retrace our route through the harbour and back along along the Forth via the cycle path.

More opportunities to take in the lovely views on our return journey

The clouds provide a dramatic setting in the light of the early evening

Follow the cycle path towards Kinneil Halt and avoid branching off. When the cycle path meets a left hand turn, bear right to continue towards Kinneil Halt. Incidentally, the left fork takes you on a short detour back across the railway to The Corbie Inn, which has a dog friendly beer garden.

Keep following the cycle path back to the railway crossing near to where we started out walk. Cross back over and follow the cycle path back to the car park.