Stirling

📌 City in Stirling council area
★★★

A crossroads at the heart of Scotland, Stirling ends up on most tourist itineraries by virtue of its famous castle and iconic Wallace Monument. But what about the city itself? The central retail district is fairly unremarkable, with a few pedestrianised streets and a couple of shopping arcades. It lies at the foot of the steep slope leading up to the castle, and the half-mile stretch in between is the most interesting part of town; there are numerous historic buildings and monuments here along with a handful of tourist attractions, interspersed with some decidedly unspectacular architecture too. Don’t miss walking around the edge of the old City Wall and out to Mote Hill for brilliant views across to the Ochils, Ben Lomond and the Trossachs, and down towards Stirling Old Bridge and the King’s Knot. No matter which streets you end up taking during your visit, steep gradients are unavoidable – hopefully you’re in an energetic mood.

🌍 Location

📌 Stirling council area. Thistles Shopping Centre in the city centre is at:

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 797933

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.117607,-3.936872

🚶 The centre is compact but hilly, with the shopping district at the foot and the castle at the top. Bannockburn and the Wallace Monument are each a bus ride away.

🚆🚌 Stirling has good excellent rail and coach links to the rest of Scotland, and a comprehensive local bus network.

🚗 Central car parks have a charge, but there’s free street parking further out if you don’t mind walking.

<1 mi away

>> Argyll’s Lodging ★★★

>> Church of the Holy Rude ★★★

>> King’s Knot ★★

>> Mar’s Wark ★

>> Mote Hill ★★★

>> Stirling Castle ★★★★

>> Stirling Old Bridge ★

>> Stirling Old Town Jail ★★★

>> The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum ★★★

<3 mi away

>> Cambuskenneth Abbey ★★ (1 mi →)

>> National Wallace Monument ★★★ (2 mi ↑)

>> The Battle of Bannockburn ★★★★ (2 mi ↓)

>> Walk: Abbey Craig – William Wallace wander ★★★ (2 mi ↑)