Home Report Muckhart

Muckhart, is a common term for two small conservation villages which lie next to each other, Pool of Muckhart and Yetts o’ Muckhart. The combined population is about 100 residents. ‘Muckhart’ then, is one of the Hillfoots Villages, situated on the A91 around 3 miles (5 kilometres) northeast of Dollar. Both villages lie near the entrance of Glen Devon at the eastern end of the Ochil Hills.

Pool of Muckhart lies slightly east of the centre of the parish of Muckhart. The village lies in the valley of the River Devon, near the entrance to Glen Devon. Yetts o’ Muckhart lies around 1⁄4 mile further east of Pool of Muckhart. A tollhouse was established here in the early 19th century on a road used by cattle drovers and coaches. Yett is a Scots word for “gate”, also used in reference to hill passes.

In terms of transport links, Muckhart is situated on the A91 trunk road and residents must rely on cars to get around. Muckhart has never been served by the railway. It was formerly served by the 23 Stirling–St Andrews bus route however this was unfortunately withdrawn because of low use. Following the withdrawal of that route it was served by the X53 Stirling–Kinross, however, this route has also been withdrawn today. Residents can get buses from nearby Dollar, however.

The two conservation villages are very pretty and are often stopped at by day-trippers and tourists visiting the area. They have a wonderful 18th-century coaching inn and a 19th-century tollhouse which was used by cattle drovers and coaches. While the former is still in use today the latter is now a home. The nearby Muckhart Golf Club has three 9-hole courses offering terrific views and a challenging game for most skill levels. A little bit down the road is a wonderful Japanese garden, recently restored after falling into ruin. It is open to the public and is absolutely stunning, especially on a sunny day.

Muckhart’s location – like all Hillfoot settlements – is an ideal base for exploring the southern area of the beautiful Ochil Hills. The Muckhart loop is also a popular walking route in the area. This route takes a path through the forests and flowers of Geordies Wood, part of the gorgeous Muckhart Nature Park.

In terms of local education, Muckhart Primary School is the local primary school. When reaching secondary school age, pupils travel west to Alva, where they attend Alva Academy. Alva Academy provides secondary education to all the Hillfoot settlements.