Stirling is an ancient Gaelic city and a historic burgh in Scotland. It is an important medieval town, which is built around a sprawling castle and is an interesting place to be! The town is made famous by many personalities like Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the contemporary league comprised of the animation guru Norman McLaren, and the ace footballer Billy Bremner among others.
An erstwhile Stone Age settlement, Stirling has had a strategic importance in the Scottish history due to its natural bastions of Crag and tail hill presiding over river Forth, where the Stirling Castle, stands today. The Stirling Bridge spanning over the River Forth was the mute witness of long drawn battles with England, which took place in 1297. The port and the bridge at Stirling opened the gateways to a blooming economy. It became a royal burgh during the reign of King David in the 12th century.
Perched aside the castle is the Church of the Holy Rood, which traces its origin to 1400s, is one of the most significant historical buildings. Apart from Westminster Abbey, it is the only remaining church in the United Kingdom, to have held a coronation.
If you have the spine of steel, Stirling should be your best bet as it has many haunted places like The Settle Inn" near the castle and "The Golden Lion" pub to list a few. There are many interesting sights and activities that would keep you engaged! You can get lost in the cobweb of ancient streets, surrender to the mesmerizing charm of historic edifices, or make a peek into some of the hot spots like the Argyle's Lodging, the Old Town Jail, Darnley's House, and John Cowane's Hospital among others. It has peppy shopping spots and a rich sprinkling of award winning restaurants and pubs too.
Stirling has Perth and Kinross as its borders and has many stunning natural spectacles like lofty mountains, cascading rivers and lush green woodlands. The ice clad peaks and serene lochs are great for an array of sporting activities or just to take a break after a gruelling day of sight seeing!
True to its name, which is literally translated as the ‘Place of Strife' it has seen many turbulent moments and wars in Scottish history. Stirling is an extensive playground where you can enjoy to your heart’s content! Pit stop at the ruined Abbey of Cambuskenneth or sign off the day with a well deserved champagne at the battlefield of Bannockburn; the possibilities are immense and all you have to do is to string together the choicest options to make an unbeatable Stirling circuit.
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