Active Dollar Muckhart: mapping a path to community wellbeing

Active Dollar Muckhart is a resource to around 4,000 in the area and aims to promote access to physical exercise for everyone, regardless of age, ability or experience.

ADM operates from two key venues: The Dollar Community Development Trust Hive and Muckhart Community Council's Coronation Hall, delivering eight comprehensive cycling programmes alongside walking initiatives and community sports promotion.

The grant

In November 2024, ADM received £7,000 from the Rumbling Bridge Community Hydro Fund to support the development and production of the first map in the Hillfoots Walking and Cycling Map Series. This three-map series (covering Fossoway, Muckhart/Dollar, Tillicoultry and Glendevon) is one way in which ADM are working to improve community health and wellbeing. The grant funded community consultation, professional field surveying by Evolution Cycling, cartography services through Harvey Maps, and design and printing of 1,000 copies of this valuable community and visitor resource.

Donald Malcolm, ADM said: The project has come together so well thanks to fantastic people across the community getting involved, giving their time and sharing their expertise. We hope many people enjoy using the trails over years to come and we look forward to building on this first stage.

The project journey

The project emerged from Community Action Planning processes in both Muckhart and Fossoway, which identified residents' need for better local path information and safer walking routes. A steering group comprising members from Muckhart Community Council and Fossoway Community Development Trust proved instrumental to success through their collaborative, creative approach and willingness to share specialist knowledge for community benefit.

The team prioritised accessibility and simplicity, creating maps without complex contours that might discourage newcomers to outdoor activities. The approach was a thoughtful and reflective one, focussing on what was needed in detail before embarking on design and implementation. The focus was on encouraging regular exercise among residents and visitors alike. Fossoway Primary School's head teacher joined the steering group, providing invaluable educational perspectives, while local businesses, including Mona's café, The Inn at Muckhart, Japanese Garden, and Powmill Milk Bar supported distribution efforts. The end result has been a high-quality weatherproof map featuring cycling routes plus five mini-maps of walking routes around key local locations including Rumbling Bridge, Powmill, Law Hill, and Crook of Devon. These are distributed by local businesses at £2 per copy.

Impact and success

The project has been warmly received and has generated significant community excitement and pride.
Most importantly, the project successfully created accessible entry points for people to explore their local environment off-road, offering avenues for people to improve their fitness and wellbeing. The collaboration strengthened inter-community relationships and brought joy to both residents and visitors.  Building on this success, ADM is currently developing Map 2 (Muckhart to Dollar including Tillicoultry) and planning an impact evaluation study with the University of Stirling to measure long-term community health and wellbeing outcomes.

Read more about the Rumbling Bridge Hydro Community Fund