It is situated on a slight elevation at the western edge of the Carse of Stirling, an area of flat agricultural land which forms the upper part of the floodplain of the River Forth.

Much of the land within the Carse was bogland until the late 18th century when concerted efforts were made to clear away the peat and expose the fertile clay soil below.

Flanders Moss, the largest remaining area of lowland bog in Scotland and a site of special scientific interest, lies to the south west.

The village lies on a traditional east–west route from Dunblane to Aberfoyle[2] which passes the Old Post Cottage and was planned and founded at the end of the seventeenth century.

[5] The ruins of a possible Iron Age broch lie at Boquhapple about 1 mile north of Thornhill.