Local attractions & activities in and around Stirling

There is so much to see and do in and around Stirling, and to help you get the most out of your time with us we have selected just a few ideas to help you along the way...

DAY ONE
After an early breakfast, start your time here by visiting our historic landmarks right here in the city of Stirling, just 5 minutes walk from the hotel...

 • Stirling Castle: is a great symbol of Scottish independence and a source of enduring national pride. The castle’s long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.

 • The Old Town Jail: is an intriguing attraction for visitors and has fantastic live prison tours where you can meet the prison warden, the Victorian reformer, the Hangman and the convict determined to escape.

 • The Church of the Holy Rude: is a magnificent 15th century building, still with its original oak beams intact.  It is one of the few medieval parish churches to have survived the Reformation, which was very extreme in Scotland.

 • The Tolbooth: after your day of sight seeing, enjoy a comedy show or ceilidh here at the recently restored arts centre, redesigned by award winning architect Richard Murphy.

DAY TWO
Venture a little further, but not too far...Less than 3 miles from the hotel lies the beautiful historic spa town

 • Bridge of Allan: this beautiful Spa town has been a popular holiday destination since the early Victorian times.  The centre has a wide variety of boutique shops, cafes and delicatessens, and there are lots of beautiful public walks around the outskirts of the town where you can relax and maybe enjoy a picnic. 

 • University of Stirling: is famous for its breathtaking surroundings, nestled between the Ochils and the Wallace Monument, witha large lake and a variety of wildlife from swans to wild deer.

 • Wallace Monument: standstall and proud outside the city of Stirling, and overlooks the scene of Scotland's victory at The Battle of Stirling Bridge. This is a place where history is something you can touch and feel, as you follow the story of Sir William Wallace, patriot, martyr, and Guardian of Scotland.

 • Macrobert Centre: is also at the University, so while you are up here, you could take in a show at its theatre, or a screening at the cinema.  The Centre also has an art gallery and stylish café bar.

DAY THREE
Stay a little longer and explore the surrounding area...

 • Blair Drummond Safari Park: 6 miles away, combines a mixture of driving through wild animal reserves then parking and walking through pets farm, playing in one of the many adventure areas, taking in the sea lion and falconry displays and visiting chimp island. There are many picnic and BBQ areas around the park as well as restaurant and bar facilities. If you arrive at the park by public transport there's a safari bus that can take you round the animal reserves free of charge.

 • Loch Lomond National Park: home to some of the finest scenery in Scotland.  It is an area of contrasts from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests, woodlands and wildlife.

 • Dunblane Cathedral: built upon a Christian site first established by Saint Blane around the year 600, it is one of the few surviving medieval churches in Scotland.

CALENDAR EVENTS
 • Scottish Highland Games: Scotland has a long tradition and history of Highland Games where Clans compete against each other in sporting events. Many of these traditions can still be seen in Highland Games today however they are now much more sociable and fun events. Many events at today's Highland Games still use items which would have been part of everyday life in the Highlands of old eg. round stones from river beds probably provided the original shot-putts while a Scots pine trunk shorn of its branches is still the caber as tossed today.