For many years the residents and visitors to Creetown have enjoyed walks up through Balloch Wood to the old Curling Ponds.
The wood is also known as the Ballochanamour Wood - shown as such on OS Maps.

From the bottom of the wood, there was a choice of two paths. The lower path followed the edge of the steep gorge in which runs the Balloch Burn. Just before the lower path drops down to nearer the level of the burn, there is an unofficial branch path, on the right, to join the upper path. The upper path, the official "Core Path", roughly follows a higher contour. Two tributaries of the Bannoch Burn come down from the hills to the south of the Balloch Wood .

Both paths crossed the route of the western of the two tributary burns, and continue on till the lower path climbed to the right, up the hill to meet with the upper path.

The loop walk that these two paths formed is called the “Burnside Trail”. The combined paths then crossed over a small stone bridge, “Cardoon Bridge”, and the path, called the “Pond Trail” continued on up to the old Curling Ponds.

A number of years ago, about half way along this trail, an ethereal sculpture
“The Lady of the Woods” appeared.
This was carefully crafted out of what looked like plaster, reinforced with straw. Over a number of years it very sadly succumbed to the wet weather
and slowly sank back to mother nature.
We hope she did not witness the recent changes to her wood.

Click to enlarge ->.

Across the road by the Round House at the Curling Ponds, the Oak Trail path crosses over the Balloch Burn and continues up to the end of the wood.
There is an alternative return loop for part of the way, which used to have board walks.

The above Trails information board near the Ponds shows what were the two popular loop walks; the Burnside Trail in the lower part of the wood and the Oak Trail in the upper part, linked by the Pond Trail.

The official Core Path, which FLS have to keep clear, is just a single route running the length of the wood.

Some early footpath photos can be seen here:

Photos of the Eowyn Storm damage cab be seen here:

Recent photos of the cleared Core Path are here:

The Future of the Paths

The Trails information board in the above section, shows what were the two popular loop walks; the Burnside Trail in the lower part of the wood and the Oak Trail in the upper part, linked by the Pond Trail.

The official Core Path is just a single route running the length of the wood.

FLS have said they will also clear the part of the Burnside Trail next to the burn, which is blocked by fallen trees due to the Eowyn storm.

Once the felling operations are completed, FLS will re-plant the felled areas with native broadleaf trees., and will clear all fallen trees across the footpaths.

Balloch Wood will then become solely Community Woodland.

The details of which paths the community will manage and maintain are currently being finalised with FLS.

This is why we need to form an enthusiastic group to look after the future of the Balloch Wood’s paths, bridges, trees and recreational areas. Not just for the benefit of the local community but also for the natural inhabitants of the wood.