LOOK OUT FOR THE CLACK

 Today, our first stop is the town of Alloa, with its tower dating back to the 14th century (Creative Commons License).

Here's Alloa town hall (Creative Commons License).

All rail traffic to Alloa station had ceased by 1983.

Now it's 2008 and Alloa has a new station.

Midland Bluebird used to serve the town.

Firstbus later took over.

Mackies, based in Alloa, ran several services after deregulation.

M-Line also served the town.

This Optare Solo was operated by an organisation called WAVE.

The Thistle Bar, in the foreground, was once the best place to sample Maclay's beer, from the brewery behind.

Here's a view of the loading yard at Maclay's.

Inside the fermenting room. Sadly, Maclay's no longer exist.

A reminder of another lost brewery.

Ind Coope's Alloa Brewery closed in 1998 and has since been demolished.

Yet another brewery to be lost was Forth Brewery, in Alloa.

Thankfully, the Mansfield Arms, at nearby Sauchie, is still going strong and serving home-brewed ales.

Next, we're off to Clackmannan, where the County Arms once served real ales. Beside the clock tower is the historic clack.

We reach Tillicoulty by Mackie's coach. It's at the base of the Ochil Hills.

It would appear that the Woolpack in Tillicoultry is now "long term closed".

So, we scrounge a lift in a Harviestown Brewery dray to the village of Dollar.

Oh dear! It appears that the Lorne Tavern at Dollar is no longer in business.

We'll console ourselves with a bit of scenery, by the River Devon, in Perthshire & Kinross.

Heading north, for a few miles, we come to Glenfarg, where Earnside Coaches had their depot.

To the north of Glenfarg is Bridge of Earn, which still had its railway station in 1961 (Ben Brooksbank).

A sharp right turn brings us to Abernethy, where the Crees Inn will provide refreshment.

Right, that's it for now. We're heading for Fife in the next post. Here's the route so far.