Stirling Tourist Information

The council area Stirling includes much of the former county of Stirlingshire and the south west of the former county of Perthshire. Stirling is situated in the central midlands of Scotland, an area that has witnessed much of Scotland's history. The many attractions open to the public today make this an essential area of Britain to explore, discover and enjoy.

Stirling Tourist Information can be found in the village of Drymen, at the south east corner of Loch Lomond. The busy village has good facilities for visitors. Drymen is the starting point of the 79mile Rob Roy Way, which ends at Pitlochry. The village lies a short distance from the route of the West Highland Way.

North east at Aberfoyle, Stirling Tourist Information is available at the Trossachs Discovery Centre. Aberfoyle is situated at the south western gateway to the Highlands. Tourism to the area increased after the publication of Sir Walter Scott's novel "The Lady of the Lake" in 1810. Aberfoyle was once the third largest slate mining community in Scotland. In the 1930s it produced the slate used for the billiard tables on the liner Queen Mary.

Tourism in the region usually begins in the historic city of Stirling. The wealth of fine architecture, cobbled streets and narrow wynds delight its visitors, who also enjoy the more modern amenities of today's Stirling. Perched high on an extinct volcano is Stirling Castle, overlooking the battlefields where Scottish armies fought for supremacy over the English.

Attractions in and around Stirling include Argyll's Lodging, the finest surviving example in Scotland of a 17th century town house. In the King's Park, once the hunting grounds of the Stuart monarchs, is the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, where you can see a fine collection of Scottish painting. "The Stirling Story" is a permanent exhibition telling the story of Stirling over the past millennium.

Nearby on Abbey Craig is the National Wallace Monument, a landmark for miles around. Should you make the serious climb to the top you'll be rewarded by stunning views.

Two miles south of Stirling is Bannockburn. The battlefield was the site of Robert Bruce's victory over Edward II's army in 1314.

South of Stirling is Bridge of Allan, set on the Allan Water. The town developed into a spa town when mineral springs were found in 1813. Huge numbers of visitors came to 'take the waters'. Among them were Robert Louis Stevenson and Charles Dickens. The town expanded with the arrival of the railway and the many fine buildings in the town reflect the prosperity of this time. Bridge of Allan is home to the University of Stirling. A riverside walk - the 'Darn Walk' - links Bridge of Allan with Dunblane. To the west between Bridge of Allan and Dunblane is Blair Drummond Safari Park. It's a great place for families to visit.

Stirling Tourist Information can be accessed in Dunblane, a town set in lovely surrounding countryside and within easy reach of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The name is thought to derive from the Celtic missionary St. Blane, who built a monastery on the hill-fort or 'dun' on the high ground above the town. Dunblane was a busy textile town with a woollen mill and silk dying mill during the 1800s. With the arrival of the railways Dunblane became a popular resort for holidaymakers, as it still is today with many modern facilities.

On 13th March 1996 Dunblane was the scene of a horrific tragedy which shocked the Nation, when a gunman entered a primary school in the town, shooting sixteen children and their teacher. A memorial stone has been erected in Dunblane Cathedral to commemorate those who lost their lives in this atrocity.

Dunblane Cathedral dates mainly from the 13th century and is one of the few surviving medieval churches in Scotland. It was restored to its Gothic splendour in the late 19th century. Nearby, in the Dean's House is a museum of local history. The Leighton Library founded by Robert Leighton, Bishop of Dunblane in the 17th century is the oldest private library in Scotland. Visitors have the opportunity to view some of Scotland's rarest books here.

Stirling Tourist Information can be found in Callander, at the gateway to the highlands. This attractive town is a popular centre at the eastern gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitor Centre features displays relating to Rob Roy MacGregor. There are pleasant riverside walks along the River Teith, while more strenuous walks can be enjoyed to Bracklinn Falls and Callander Crags.

Stirling Tourist Information is situated in the north of the region in Killin. The information centre is housed in the Breadalbane Folklore Centre, within the disused St. Fillans water mill. Killin's main attraction is the spectacular Falls of Dochart, which cascade over the rocks and around the island of Inchbuie - the traditional burial place of the MacNab clan. North west of Killin is Moirlanich Longhouse. This cruck frame cottage and byre date from the mid 19th century and retains many original features. There is an exhibition interpreting the restoration of the Longhouse, which is in the care of the care of the National Trust for Scotland.