Stirling offers the visitor the opportunity to experience a
unique blend of well-preserved history and culture within an
area of outstanding natural beauty. Stirling started life as a
town in the 1120s when it was granted a royal charter, and
since then it has been at the heart of Scottish history.

William Wallace, as portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film
Braveheart, won the battle of Stirling Bridge against the
English in 1297. That bridge was a timber structure, which
collapsed under the weight of the crossing English forces.
However the current stone bridge, a few hundred yards up
stream, dates from the 15th century. Although it is one of
the best examples of a bridge from that era, it is in everyday
use as a pedestrian river crossing. The Wallace
Monument, erected in honour of William Wallace, was not
built until Victorian times. Climb the 246 curvaceous stone
steps to admire the wonderful view from the top. You can
muse at the 700-year-old two-handed broadsword used by
Wallace, all of 66 inches in length. Envisage wielding it and
bringing its full might down on your enemy.

The Battle of Bannockburn, the famous victory of Scots over
English in 1314, took place in nearby Bannockburn. The
English king, Edward the 2nd, had amassed an army of
40,000 to crush the troublesome Scots. Incredibly Sir
Robert The Bruce, the Scottish leader, triumphed with a
force of 13,000 due to careful planning and tactics, and
exploitation of the boggy ground. The battlefield is now
under the care of the National Trust. You can wander round
the battleground and imaging the battle cries and swirling
swords.
Many of the Scots would form a schiltron, a defensive
circular formation with spears slanted outwards at an
oblique angle. As the English cavalry advanced, the
Scottish pikes killed many of the horses and knights.

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle, perched on volcanic rock rising 250m from
the surrounding valley, is the region’s most visible
landmark. The castle guards the lowest crossing point of
the River Forth as it meanders through the valley. In its long
and bloody history Stirling Castle has been attacked or
besieged 16 times. The majority of the castle buildings
date from 1496 to 1583. Several Scottish kinds and queens
have been baptised, crowned or died within or near the
castle. One of the best known, Mary Queen of Scots, was
crowned there in 1543, when still an infant. The ghost of
“The Green Lady”, a royal attendant who saved Mary’s life
when the draperies on her bed had caught fire, is said to
haunt the castle. Her appearance is thought to herald a
disaster.

The castle sits at the Top of the Town. Just down the hill
stands the Church of the Holy Rude, and in its graveyard
stand gravestones dating from 1579. The Star Pyramid
commemorates all those who were martyred seeking
religious freedom. A local eccentric is said to be interned
inside the pyramid, seated at a feasting table.

Also part of the old town is Broad Street, the hub of medieval
civic life. Here stands the Mercat Cross, a prominent
feature of the burgh where important and local
announcements are made. The unicorn at the top of the
present cross is part of the original structure. The Old
Tolbooth, a courthouse, council meeting place, armoury and
prison constituting the administrative heart of the old town,
stood in Broad Street. The current Tolbooth replaced it in
1702, designed by the famous Scottish architect Sir William
Booth. The tower with its pavilion roof is a characteristic
architectural feature of Scottish civic building of the period.
The Tolbooth has recently been renovated and is now a
centre for arts and entertainment.

The old town wall is still very much in evidence and is the
best surviving example in Scotland. A circular walk, named
the Back Walk, takes you up round the wall, up to the Castle,
and down to Holy Rude and Broad Street. By foot, you can
go at your own pace and soak up the history.

However, whilst proud of its past, Stirling can also offer the
modern attractions. The Thistle Shopping Centre, an indoor
shopping centre with a full array of stores, stands near to
the Old Arcade, a Victorian arcade built in 1881-82
containing small specialist shops.

The Star Pyramid

Stirling became a city in 2002 as part of the celebrations to
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
There are plans for a new conference centre, cinema and
shops on the bank of the Forth.

Stirling is an ideal location for a holiday in Scotland, as it is
right in the centre of Scotland. You could do a different day
trip every day for a week, in your own car or by public
transport. The cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth can
be reached in under an hour. Other possible day trips
include the Trossachs, Loch Lomond and St. Andrews.

If you would like to find out more about visiting my
hometown of Stirling, please contact me.

Stirling hotels

The Royal Hotel

The 3 star Royal Hotel is situated in the village of Bridge of
Allan, 2 miles from Stirling city centre. The Royal is an
elegant Victorian building. The rooms are light and
spacious, with large bathrooms, most with natural light, and
beautifully co-ordinated soft furnishings.

They have some fabulous offers for January and February
as follows:

Dinner bed & breakfast @ £40.00 per person midweek
(sharing double/twin)
Dinner bed & breakfast @ £50.00 per person Friday/
Saturday evenings (sharing double/twin)

Bed & breakfast @ £30.00 per person midweek (sharing
double/twin)
Bed & breakfast @ £35.00 per person Friday/Saturday
evenings (sharing double/twin)

The Terraces Hotel

The 3 star Terraces Hotel is located in a Georgian building,
a couple of minutes walk from Stirling city centre. The
bedrooms are sponsored by
different single malt whiskies, giving the hotel a real
Scottish flavour.

A double room with breakfast costs £100 per night.