Around Bridge of Allan
Places to visit near Bridge of Allan
If you’re looking for adventure beyond Bridge of Allan, you’re spoiled for choice! Our town is surrounded by iconic, enchanting attractions, from one of the most important castles in the country, to the world’s largest horse sculptures and stunning national parks. Read on for a selection of the best places to visit nearby.
(Pictured above Ben A’an and Loch Katrine, The Trossachs)
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Stirling Castle was the key to the kingdom of Scotland, dominating a volcanic rock above the river Forth at the meeting point between Lowlands and Highlands. Its origins are ancient and over the centuries it grew into a great royal residence and a powerful stronghold. During the Wars of Independence, the castle changed hands eight times in 50 years. It’s no accident that famous battles such as Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn took place within sight of its walls.
In times of peace Scottish royalty came to Stirling to enjoy its comforts, hunting and to hold court – the castle was often the centre of government. Royal building projects like the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal and the Palace of James V, marked it out as one of the most important places in Scotland. It was also a childhood home of some of the most famous people in Scottish and British history, like Mary Queen of Scots and James VI and I.
Later it became an important military base and eventually home to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Since the last of the soldiers marched away it has seen major projects to return the main buildings to their original magnificence.
Nowadays Stirling Castle is famous internationally as one of Scotland’s must-see visitor attractions.
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www.stirlingcastle.scot
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The Helix is an exciting new parkland providing free activities for all, including cycling, walking, watersports and much more.
The Helix Park is also the Home of the Kelpies - the largest equine sculptures in the world, located between Falkirk and Grangemouth. Standing at 100ft tall and weighing more than 300 tonnes each, the magical Kelpies are a man-made wonder and a feat of engineering.
The works of art, created by artist Andy Scott, have become iconic on the landscape after being modelled on real-life icons of times gone by — Clydesdale horses Duke and Baron. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coalships that shaped the geographical layout of Falkirk.
The park itself features plenty to be explored, including around 500km of connected cycle paths. The Helix also boasts a new lagoon, cafe, adventure zone and splash play area.
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Cambuskenneth Abbey was founded in about 1140 by King David I to serve Stirling Castle, which stands a short distance to the west. It was the scene of Robert the Bruce’s parliaments in 1314 and 1326, and the burial place of James III and Margaret of Denmark in the 1480s.
The abbey’s chief delight is the bell tower – there are no parallels for this structure in Scotland. It’s an excellent example of 1200s architecture, with good lancet windows and ornamental arcades.
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Dunblane Cathedral dates back to the 12th century, with most of what stands having been constructed during the bishopric of Clement in the 13th Century. Built upon a Christian site first established by Saint Blane around the year 600, the Cathedral is one of the few surviving medieval churches in Scotland.
In 1889, after the Nave had been roofless for around 300 years, a great restoration of the Cathedral began under the guidance of leading Scottish architect Rowand Anderson. Further restoration was carried out under architect Robert Lorimer in 1914.
It is home to a Congregation of around a thousand members and serves the parish of Dunblane and its surroundings.
Dunblane Cathedral is part of the Church of Scotland and Presbyterian in its constitution.
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Established in the 1960s when our pioneering founder saw the potential in an old cotton mill, the power of the River Teith and a hardworking community, Deanston is not your typical distillery. It’s far from the quaint Highland distilleries that may come to mind when you think about whisky in Scotland.
Formerly a bustling cotton mill that, in its heyday employed 1500 people, the building and community of Deanston were facing uncertainty when it closed for good in 1965.
The distillery’s founder, Brodie Hepburn, saw huge potential in the battered old cotton mill, where others only saw challenges. He saw the people of Deanston town, with the passion and honest work ethic to become true whisky makers. He saw potential in the river Teith, with water soft enough for whisky, and powerful enough to fuel the distillery. Today, so much power is generated here, around 75% of it is sold back to the National Grid.
The distillery also sources fine Scottish barley from local farmers, using traditional hands-on methods and fermentation to produce their waxy, soft, smooth highland single malt.
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Scotland’s first national park is within easy reach of Bridge of Allan, with some great destinations, including the pretty lochside villages of Luss and Balmaha. Visit Rowardennan to climb Ben Lomond, Scotland's most southerly Munro (a mountain above 3,000ft high).
Thousands walk alongside Loch Lomond each year on Scotland's first and best-known great trail, The West Highland Way, a 96-mile walk from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, to Fort William in the Highlands.
Pick up the well-signed Trossachs Trail at Doune for a trip to discover lochs, glens and mountains. The Trossachs were made famous by Sir Walter Scott’s 1810 poem ‘Lady of the Lake’ which is set at Loch Katrine.
Get a great view of this loch from Ben A'an and then take a cruise on it at Trossachs Pier. Loch Katrine is the water supply for much of west and central Scotland.
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www.seelochlomond.co.uk
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Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith. It lies 8 miles northwest of Stirling, where the Teith flows into the River Forth.
The grounds of the castle include a beautiful woodland walk and new pedestrian bridge.
Doune has a long history of fortification. A Roman fort is nearby, and the masonry and earthworks of the present castle probably include parts of an earlier castle that stood here.
But the way the castle looks today is largely down to ‘Scotland’s uncrowned king’. Doune was the seat of Robert Stewart, the 1st Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland. He acquired the castle in 1361, when he married Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith.
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Stand shoulder to shoulder with Robert the Bruce on the site of his greatest victory.
Immerse yourself in the award-winning Battle of Bannockburn experience as you witness a digitally re-created version of the battle, up close. Find out how warriors, pages, knights and civilians on either side of the conflict became involved and what role they played.
Discover more about the two opposing kings, whose tactics in 1314 changed the path of Scotland’s history, forever. Follow in the footsteps of Robert the Bruce in our memorial park and see the spot where he raised his royal standard.
The Battle of Bannockburn experience puts you at the heart of the action so you can discover more about this crucial event in Scottish history.
Outside, the layout of the parkland around the centre allows visitors to appreciate the surrounding landscape and restored commemorative monuments, including the iconic statue of Robert the Bruce by Pilkington Jackson, cast in shimmering bronze.
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Deep gorges, rushing burns, towering trees and a ruined castle make Dollar Glen the perfect place to ramble away from day-to-day life.
This beautiful stretch of woodland lies east of Stirling and is ensconced in the shadow of the Ochil Hills. There’s a wealth of rare wildlife habitats here, including being a nationally important location for lichens and ferns. Green woodpecker, dipper and nuthatch are three of the many species of birds who live in the lush, wooded gorges.
Wander the banks of the Burns of Sorrow and Care or try to storm Castle Campbell, the 15th-century stronghold of the Earls of Argyll, standing high overlooking the gorges and tree-lined slopes.
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