Dollar - small town in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK

Dollar is a village in Clackmannanshire in the Central Belt of Scotland, with a population of 2,800 in 2016. The scenic glen leading up to the castle is the reason to visit.

Dollar has no connection to the unit of currency - that word derives from silver mined in Joachimsthal in Bohemia, hence silver thalers. The village name may mean dolorous or gloomy - the ravine of the glen can certainly be a dark and draughty place in winter. Nearby Stirling likewise has no connection with £ sterling.

Get in

Stirling is the most convenient railway station, with frequent trains from Glasgow Queen St and Edinburgh, then onward buses to Dollar.

First Bus X53 runs from Stirling to the University, Alva, Tillicoultry, Dollar (35 min), Yetts of Muckart and Kinross (another 20 min). They're every two hours M-Sa. The Stagecoach bus via Dollar to St Andrews has been axed.

First Bus 52 runs M-Sa every 30 min, hourly Sunday, from Stirling to Alva and Tillicoultry, then turns south to Fishcross and Alloa. It doesn't reach Dollar but you could walk the three miles from Tillicoultry, as A91 has a narrow sidewalk.

By car get on A91 which runs between Stirling to the west and Cupar (Fife) to the east. From Edinburgh leave M90 at jcn 6 to join A91, you can't exit at jcn 7.

Get around

Dollar is a small village and the castle is a short scenic walk. You need wheels to explore the countryside, such as Glen Devon.

First Bus H2 runs from Dollar to Tillicoultry, Fishcross, Alloa (25 min), Clackmannan and Forth Valley Royal Hospital at Larbert. They're every two hours M-Sa.

See

• Castle Campbell, Dollar FK14 7PP (Walk up glen or cycle / drive up steep lane), 56.1748°, -3.6748°, +44 1259 742408. Apr-Sept daily 09:30-17:30, Oct-Mar Sa-W 10:00-16:00. 15th C Towerhouse originally known as "Castle Gloom", but the Campbells of Argyll got an Act of Parliament passed to change the name - now that's power! But it was destroyed by the Royalists in 1654 when the 8th Earl of Argyll supported the Covenanters and Parliamentarians. He was beheaded after the Restoration and his son the 9th Earl abandoned the ruin, instead building Argyll's Lodgings in Stirling. Adult £6, child £3.60, conc £4.80 2019-03-26
• Dollar Museum, Castle Campbell Hall, 1 High Street, FK14 7AY, 56.16678°, -3.67082°. Easter-Xmas Sa 11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:30, Su 14:00-16:30. Volunteer-run museum, showing the history of the town, Dollar Academy independent school, the Devon Valley Railway and temporary exhibitions. Free 2019-03-26
• Dollar Academy is an independent school in the village, with some 1200 co-ed pupils, mostly boarders. The grounds are private but you should be able to espy the grand facade, built by Playfair in the 19th century.
• Japanese Garden, Upper Hillfoot Rd, Cowden FK14 7PL, 56.180°, -3.639°, +44 7876 117703. Daily Apr-Oct 10:30-17:00, Nov-Mar 10:30-16:00. Created in the Edwardian era, falling derelict but now under restoration. It's in the grounds of the former Cowden Castle, demolished in 1950. No dogs. Adult £7 2021-07-30
• Yetts of Muckhart 📍: you can't fail to go to a place with such a name. Actually it's just a road junction, but A823 north through Glen Devon is one of the most charming glens of Scotland, especially when the gorse and heather are in bloom. You can cycle or walk up the side track to Frandy Farm but cars aren't allowed up there. Further north, A823 descends steeply down Gleneagles: famous name but not as scenic, and nowhere to pull over.

Do

• Dollar Glen is the scenic gorge between village and castle. The area and path are maintained by NTS, but free to enter any time. From the museum, go upstream through the park; the way becomes steep and narrow and is not suitable for anyone with impaired mobility. The gorge narrows to a cleft, with the path carried by boardwalks and catwalks over the foaming river; a short branch delves into a cul-de-sac side-cleft. Follow the route onto the hillside with the castle. Here you can either loop back by following another path down the gorge, or take the lane. The autumn colours are brilliant, and are better on the sunlit hill than in the dark defile.
• King's Seat is ascended by branching west out of Dollar Glen over Bank Hill (343 m) then on to the main summit at 648 m. Either return the same way or circle the head of the valley over Tarmangie (645 m), Whitewisp (643 m) and (Saddle Hill 523 m) then back to the gorge and village. Lots more hikes in the Ochils nearby.
• Devon Way is the trackbed of the former Devon Valley Railway between Alloa and Kinross, suitable for hiking or cycling. The best of it is the 3 miles / 5 km from south side of Dollar heading west to Tillicoutry, with views of the Ochils. It then trends southwest to Alloa, another 3 miles. East of Dollar it only goes as far as the Academy playing fields then the route has been lost. When completed in 1871 the railway created a scenic alternative route between Glasgow and Perth. It closed to passengers in 1964 but continued to haul coal from the local mines, until those closed in 1973.
• Dollar Golf Club is north side of the village on the Ochil slopes. White tees are 5157 yards, par 69.
• Alva Games are held in Johnstone Park in Alva on the second Saturday in July. The next are on Sa 8 July 2023 from noon: adult £8, child / conc £5, parking £2 in Cochrane Park adjacent. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Buy

• Dollar has a small selection of shops on Bridge Street, including a Co-op foodstore.
• Dollar's Deli, 62 Bridge Street, 56.16284°, -3.67458°. 2020-11-11
• Sterling Mills, 56.1491°, -3.7407°. Shopping centre of "outlet" shops selling clothes and outdoor wear. Across the road is the large Sterling furniture shop. 2020-11-11
• Asda in Alloa is open daily 07:00-22:00.

Eat

• The Inn at Dollar (formerly known as the Kings Seat), 37 Bridge St, 56.163°, -3.672°, +44 1259 742200. Daily 12:00-00:00. Restaurant and bar. 2019-03-26
• Tulip Indian Restaurant next door is open M-F 16:00-23:00. Takeaways on Bridge St are Mo's Plaice (fish & chips, daily 16:30-21:30) and Lee's (Chinese, W-M 16:30-22:00).

Drink

• See the hotels and inns, the village is too small for a stand-alone pub.
• Harvieston Brewery is at Alva, no tours. Belhaven have a distribution centre nearby but their brewery remains at Dunbar.

Sleep

• Local B&Bs didn't open in 2021, because of the impracticality of covid precautions.
• Bridge Inn, 1 High Street, Tillicoultry FK13 6AA (3 miles west of Dollar), 56.15375°, -3.74946°, +44 1259 750252. 9 room hotel. B&B double £40 2020-11-11
• Dam View, Gartmorn Farm, Alloa FK10 3AU (2 miles south of Tillicoultry), 56.133°, -3.743°, +44 7437 602015. Three stylish 3-bedroom glamping lodges. Open Apr-Oct, bookings are F-M, M-F or F-F. £140 / night 2021-04-01
• Tormaukin Hotel, Glendevon FK14 7JY, 56.222°, -3.627°, +44 1259 781252. In the scenic glen, this 18th century inn gets good reviews for comfort and cuisine. It's only open for accommodation F-M. B&B double £100 2021-07-30
• Gleneagles Hotel: see Crieff.

Connect

As of July 2021, Dollar and Tillicoultry have 4G from all UK carriers, but the signal is patchy. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Stirling for the Castle, and Bridge of Allan for the Wallace Monument.
• Dunfermline for the abbey, Andrew Carnegie's birthplace and Pittencrieff Park; and on the coast nearby visit the well-preserved old village of Culross.
• Perth for Scone Palace.