Unseen Scotland: The Silver Glen

The Ochil Hills dominate the landscape east of Stirling. Along their sheltered, southern faces are several small villages. They are often forgotton or overlooked when exploring Scotlands history. Yet some of the most important geological events and people have shaped history from the tiny county of Clackmannanshire-affectionately known as "the wee county".

The Jacobite uprising is well known, the world over. James VII was deemed to have abdicated when he fled to France. (A complex tale that I'll explain later). Three attempts, or uprisings, were made to reclaim the throne. The second attempt, in 1715, brings us to this small place under the shadow of the Ochil Hills.

The Silver Glen lies approximately half a mile east of the village of Alva surrounded by trees on what is known as Wood Hill. The Silver Burn flows down from Ben Ever and into The River Devon which is a tributary of the River Forth. It takes it's name from silver that was mined there from the early 1700s.

Legend has it that the Earl of Mar, John Erskine, invited a miner from Wanlockhead in Dumfriesshire to assess his lands in Alva for any potential mineral exploitation. What he found turned out to be the largest and purest deposit of silver ever to be found in the Brittish Isles. It is estimated that some forty tons of ore were mined. Locals say that Mar hid most of the silver under the floor of Alva House and used this secret wealth to lead the second Jacobite uprising of 1715. The Battle of Sheriffmuir was the indecisive peak of the campaign, both sides claimed a victory. The Jacobites advanced no further. When their King James VII landed from France, it was too late. France and Spain had withdrawn their support of the campaign and James VII returned to exile disillusioned and demoralised.

But the story of the Silver Glen doesn't end there. The Earl of Mar was also in exile in France. Allegedly, the British authorities were informed of Mar's secret fortune and it's source. Mar negotiated a pardon for his role in the uprising in return for divulging all he knew about the Alva silver. Sir Issac Newton was the Master of the Mint at the time. He analysed the ore samples and confirmed them to be very rich indeed.

Mining resumed in the Silver Glen but died out long before the century end. New attempts were made in the 1800s but success was limited.

Today you can still visit these ancient adits, although access into the mine is not possible due to iron gates. Those who have managed to gain access advise of the danger of flooded shafts. One such shaft is just feet from one of the entrances and barely visible in the low light. The current owners of the estate, The Woodland Trust, have also installed warning signs advising of the presence of radon gas.

To get there, follow the A91 from Stirling. At the end of Alva follow signs for Woodland Park. There is a car park, a very small children's play park, picnic tables and numerous woodland walks. It is also a very good place for some mountain biking. The Silver Glen is at the western edge of the estate and a circular walk allows you to enjoy a hidden gem of Scottish history.