Stirling
Within 50 minutes of your holiday property you can be in Stirling, the ancient city, dominated by one of Scotland’s most significant castles. Stirling has witnessed Scotland’s battles for independence, is steeped in history, and surrounded by monuments to the past, most notably the National Wallace Monument, towering up in the landscape j outside Stirling. Your day out from your holiday home will be memorable, as in a compact city there is a microcosm of Scottish history. A walk from the centre, up the medieval streets to the Castle, gives an unsurpassed view of the surrounding countryside, the Fintry Hills, The Ochils, Stirling Old Bridge, meandering River Forth and The Trossachs.
Culture and Heritage
Stirling Castle was not just a stronghold, but also a major Royal Residence for three hundred years (1303-1603), so it is a mixture of fortification and grace, with its lovely walled gardens, and its gun posts and towers. There are restoration projects in progress, including making seven wall tapestries for the Palace, and recreating ceiling carvings. A visit to Stirling Castle means you are seeing history in the making, particularly in the Tapestry Studio, where you can watch one of the tapestries being made. 01786 450000 www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
Old Town Jail, built in 1846, gives an interactive experience of life in a Victorian prison. 01786 450050 www.oldtownjail.com
Higher up the medieval street you find the Church of the Holy Rude, with its surrounding graveyards and the spectacular Lady’s Rock (a vantage point that gives you views of the hills, mountains and river). James VI was crowned here.
01786 475275 www.holyrude.org
You can also visit Cowane’s Hospital, which holds a genealogical database for the area. Near the Castle is the beautifully restored Argylls Lodging built in 1570.
The National Wallace Monument, sited high on Abbey Craig, brings to life the drama of William Wallace’s campaign for Scottish Freedom. 01786 472140 www.nationalwallacemonument.com
Shopping and Eating Out
The compact city centre means you can find a wide range of cafés and restaurants from the café in The Smith Art Gallery and Museum, to Henderson’s in the Albert Hall, to cafés in the main shopping area, The Thistle Marches Centre, and the surrounding pedestrianized streets. It will be a lovely day out whether you want to visit main retailers, the specialist shops on King Street, or the lovingly restored Victorian Stirling Arcade.
