Just minutes from Stirling castle, Cowane's Hospital's been around since the 17th Century and is…read morefilled to the brim with Scots history. I'm no historian but a swift Google search had me clued me in. I do like going to Cowane's Hospital for events and feeling all regal and fancy. - It certainly calls for some pearls and your best shoes. Portraits of important-looking people, beautiful architecture and some wonderful stained glass windows surround you in Cowane's Hospital. It's a stunning place to spend the evening and luckily enough, the hospital is becoming quite the cultural hot-spot with an increasing number of events taking place within the building. I'd previously been to a string quartet performance during the Stirling Fringe last year and most recently attended, local foodie favourite, Loving Food's first pop-up restaurant. The large seated balcony area upstairs is great for performances, whilst the bottom area is good for more informal social events. Just perfect for the pop-up restaurant. I do hope that the hospital continues to be used in this way, as it's just perfect for smaller-scale events and it certainly makes for a unique, hearty venue.

I went for dinner here with a friend as part of Lovin Food's pop up event, and I will be performing…read morehere in September with my folk band. A very unusual venue, this has played host to the Stirling Fringe Festival, and will do so again this year. It is truly beautiful, with period features intact. It has atmosphere and presence. A unique location and a hidden gem of a venue.

Came here after a long day in Edinburgh. Needed some peace and quiet and a place to walk our dog…read more We stayed in nearby Cambusbarron and knew this place from our first visit in Stirling - we've seen it from top of the Castle. There's small free parking place right next to the road a the northwestern entrance gate. It's a nice park. Flat, green, safe to let your dog roam free - as many do so. But there weren't many visitors that day in the late afternoon. Only a handful. It's what we looked for. A relaxed, peaceful park. And it has quite the history: The King's Knot itself (it's part of the park) is on the grounds of the ancient King's Park, Crown property from at least the 1100s, where Scotland's royalty partook in jousting, hawking and hunting. It was subject to extensive restoration under orders of Queen Victoria in 1842. It comprises an octagonal stepped mound rising to 3m high, with a rectangular parterre to the south-east. With the exception of the existing Knot Garden, nothing is known of the form of the former royal gardens. Beyond the knot, little of the park survives today. It's a nice little place. A nice sight with a nice history. Without the tourist masses.

The Titan Crane in Clydebank bills itself as Scotland's most unique attraction. There is certainly…read morean element of truth in this - as the remastered crane is quite a sight in itself, as well as enabling you to see dramatic views of the Clyde river. Based in Clydebank in the outskirts of Glasgow - the crane is very hard to miss! It stands at 150ft tall, as well as being painted a bright turqoise. Their are also very comprehensive directions on the crane's website if you are unsure of how to get there. When you arrive at this attraction, you will be met by a large carpark and the purser's office. Before you can head over to the crane, you'll need to make a trip to the Purser's office where you can watch videos of the crane's original use and it's regeneration. You'll also need to pay for the tickets - which are a little pricey. Once you've got that business out of the way, you can head over to the crane itself. You have two options here - you can either walk over (which takes about 15 mins) or you can get the mini bus. Do remember that the crane is placed right on the river's edge - so the walk is a little windy! Once you get the the crane itself you'll be taken up to the top in a lift and given the amazing view from the top. Careful if you're scared of heights though - not only is the crane VERY high, but the floor you're given to stand on is see through! The views are amazing, though, and make the whole trip worthwhile. Although there are a few souvenirs available to buy in the purser's office - don't expect to find any shops or cafe's at this attraction. Look out for special events, though, as there are always charities looking for brave souls to abseil down the crane to raise money!

OK, so there's unlikely to be a multi-lingual Clydebank Sightseeing bus launching anytime soon…read more However there is a mini bus that transports you from the town centre to the Titan Crane and for now, that's a sign of progress. There's no two ways of looking at it, for years, Clydebank was stagnating. Suffering from its close enough proximity to Glasgow City Centre, locals abandoned its handful of pubs and clubs leaving behind quiet streets and tired businesses. However there's a hint of positivity creeping into the town now spearheaded by the majestic crane which towers over it. With 3.75 million quid having been spent on restoring the structure, Clydebank Rebuilt decided to go one step further and turn it into a museum and heritage centre detailing its fascinating shipbuilding history, particularly during the World War II years when it miraculously survived despite being one of the Germans' most sought-after targets. The results are impressive. For four pounds you are afforded spectacular views of the Clyde (stationary binoculars are situated at the top) and a well documented history of the structure through pictures and video which, as well as exciting visitors, are enough to make even the most jaded Bankie's heart swell. # What's even more encouraging is that nothing about this has been done half-heartedly. Fliers are circulated across the country, billboards pointing the way to it are bold and vibrant while the lighting at night ensures it can be seen for miles around regardless of the time of day. The only downside is that, due to weather conditions, the crane only operates as a tourist attraction from May to October. Nevertheless it's a massive leap in the right direction for the town, as emphasised by the Chicago Aethaneum Award for Architecture it received in 2008. No, I've never heard of it either, but any recognition for this often neglected area is unquestionably a good thing.

Although the Braveheart movie is apparently inaccurate, the Wallace Monument was an awesome visit!…read moreThat movie was the reason for visiting Scotland the first time and coming back again, this was cool to finally see in person. The climb up was slightly exhausting but it wasn't too bad. Once you get to the top of the monument, you are able to see the surrounding valley and river. Great views from the top. If you can make it up, I would highly recommend that you do!

Located out in Stirling The National Wallace Monument is a worthy destination for those who enjoy…read morehistory. Best accessed by car, followed by a scenic up-hill walk, this is an activity best suited for able-bodied persons ready to climb a spiral staircase to the top. Divided into several levels the Victorian monument includes films, relics and stories including many expanding on the myths of Braveheart. Highlights include Wallace's enormous sword and panoramic views at the apex.

Being the first review of Argyll's Lodging is daunting…read more First, make sure you use your castle ticket to visit this amazing house, it's just at the bottom of the car park. It's not a long tour, that's why I understand that admission is not separate from the castle. Unfortunately, you don't get to see the whole house. This is Scotland's best preserved seventeenth century townhouse, which is decorated in the renaissance style. The house belonged to the Earl of Stirling, so you get the history of the house and the role of the owners. I didn't get a detailed tour, I just wandered on my own, reading the placards in each room. This will be the next focus of my learning, as its a part of Stirling's history I don't really know much about. When you walk in, there is a introduction exhibit to the history of the house. Then you walk through a hall, before entering into the traditional kitchens. When you go upstairs, you enter a beautifully decorated state room, the Earl and Lady's bedroom and her closet, with stunning views of the hills. It is a gorgeous house, beautifully decorated and well preserved. The staff are very friendly and have a real passion for the history of the house, which comes through as excitement when speaking about the story of the house. I wouldn't have stopped in on my walk if I hadn't got chatting with the lovely man on the door. (Thanks again, sir!) Definitely make sure you stop in for a wee visit on your way by. What have you go to lose? It's already included. :)

Visited April 2015: Free with ticket from Stirling Castle…read more This is a place that you can easily guide yourself through. It is a humble cottage with incredible furnishings from the time period of the 9th Earl of Argyll. It took us less than an hour to go through, take photos, and the guides were very humble and engaging with us.

I honestly think this is one of the best palaces/ castles to visit. It sits on a hill overlooking…read morethe loch. The interior is well preserved and astonishing. The birth place of Mary Queen of Scots, makes you feel like you're instantly in that world. There is also an incredible church/chapel on the grounds that is stunning (make sure you check the opening times).

It's just one of many royal palaces in Scotland, only this one was used as a nursery. It just…read morehappens to be where Mary, Queen of Scots was born on 8 Dec 1542. There's a statue of her in the park in front of the palace. It's a very peaceful place to be near a loch of the same name. Linlithgow is said to translate to "lake in the damp (or moist) hallow." Well, it totally makes sense due to the rainy climate. There was a public warning notice about high concentrations of blue-green algae in the lake. So, don't let your pets swim in it. Otherwise, it's nice to get a view of it when walking along the trails. We were there early in the morning for a little walk around the outside of the palace. The entrance gate in particular was in a prison scene from the Outlander TV Series. The castle looks whole from the outside, but in actuality it's missing a roof. There is an £11 admission fee to go inside as of Nov 2025. There's also a free audio guide that you can download from their website. It's very well-done in the way of showing and describing what it once looked like back in the 16th century while giving its history. Another thing to note is that it's free to visit St. Michael's Parish Church where Mary, Queen of Scots was baptized. One could easily spend an hour or so here just wandering around Linlithgow Peel. It was too short of a visit for us, but well worth a stop just to see the exterior and learn about the history here.

This park really is an oasis of calm in a busy town! We were delighted that we made time to have a…read morewalk here yesterday - there are many paths to follow through the huge mature trees. It was also lovely to sit beside the lake and watch (and listen to) the waterfowl. Callendar House looked beautiful and very grand, but there was no time to go inside on that occasion. It will have to be the next time we visit Falkirk! There is also a children's playground, a pitch and putt course, a crazy golf area - and you can even see part of the remains of the Antonine Wall. There are buses back to the town centre from near the entrance to the park but we missed the last one, which was about 5.15pm, so had to walk, which took us about 20 minutes - not too bad.

A really expansive park right in the middle of town. The park is sheltered from the town itself by…read morewooded hills to the south and the Antonine Wall to the north. The line of the Wall is clearly visible as two paralell mounds of earth right away along Callendar Road. The park itself has a rather good play area with climbing fort with three slides, a smaller climbing area for toddlers and a large sandpit with diggers (these are a bit hard work for the under 5s - which is a shame). There's also a kiosk open all year with hot and cold drinks, ice creams and snacks, a gallery, a mini golf and full sized golf course, plenty of paths and walks and of course Callendar House itself, which houses Falkirk's museum and includes a working Georgian kitchen. Plenty of parking, although its a short walk from the play area and house.

I wasn't much impressed with this attraction, got a couple of funny photos booking into jail which…read morewas the highlight of the visit, the rest was pretty boring and for the price you don't get much for your money. I expected more.

What a place! We went two days in a row. Day one to do an excellent Escape Room, day two for a tour…read moreof the jail itself. The highlight of the latter was the actor leading you through the history of the jail. Educational, enjoyable and exciting. A great place to visit in Stirling.