Dollar

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.

Understand
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 pound sterling.

Visitor information

 * Dollar Community town tour website

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

 * 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.
 * : 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.
 * 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.
 * : 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.
 * : 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 Course is a 9-hole course at north side of the village on the Ochil slopes.
 * Alva Games are held in Johnstone Park in Alva on the second Saturday in July, with the next on Sa 13 July 2024. Parking is 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.
 * Asda in Alloa is open daily 7AM-10PM.
 * Asda in Alloa is open daily 7AM-10PM.
 * Asda in Alloa is open daily 7AM-10PM.

Eat

 * Takeaways on Bridge St are Mo's Plaice (fish & chips, daily 4:30-9:30PM) and Lee's (Chinese, W-M 4:30-10PM).
 * Takeaways on Bridge St are Mo's Plaice (fish & chips, daily 4:30-9:30PM) and Lee's (Chinese, W-M 4:30-10PM).

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

 * Gleneagles Hotel: see Crieff.
 * Gleneagles Hotel: see Crieff.
 * Gleneagles Hotel: see Crieff.
 * 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.