This amazing and varied sculpture collection has been at the Falkirk Wheel since 2008. There are 13…read morealtogether, hand carved in granite by the sculptor, Ronald Rae, and represent 15 years of his work. They really are fascinating to see and are placed about the grassy areas not far from the Falkirk Wheel boat lift and the cafe. The largest piece is the 15 ton Tyger Tyger set on the hillside and it is animals which Ronald chiefly carves. My husband, who is blind, got a tremendous amount out of feeling these emotive statues. It's a free exhibition and often missed by people, I think, who just come to see the Wheel and don't wander a bit further away from the buildings! I'm not sure how long the exhibition will last I don't think it is necessarily permanent but it's certainly here until at least the end of the year. Ronald Rae was born in Ayr in 1946 and has been carving granite for 50 years using hand tools. He has sculptures in private and public collections in Britain and abroad. He also draws, paints and writes poetry.

Built in 1761, the Pineapple was a birthday present for the Earl of Dunmore's wife, Susan, daughter…read moreof the 9th Duke of Hamilton. Because nothing says 'Happy Birthday' more than an exotic fruit-topped summerhouse! Now belonging to the National Trust of Scotland, the Pineapple really is an odd sight to see. The building itself is large and regal; the pineapple on top the evident show stealer. It is every bit as eccentric as it sounds and really worth the trip to visit and wander the grounds. When we visited during a group cycle, there was some ongoing maintenance at the front of the building. But this was alright. - We could still see the pineapple! You can rent out the Pineapple which I imagine would be quite the experience. I like to think that, back in the day, it was host to some epic Gatsby-esque parties, sipping on gin and partying like it's 1761. Because when faced with several invitations, I've no doubt that it was this pineapple adorned estate which people chose to rock up at. I wish I could time-travel back to see! Why did the exotic fruit-on-house thing never catch on? I'd totally want a mango-adorned house.

Beautiful house & well kept gardens & nature pond.read more

The Battle of Bannockburn is important to Scotland's history. This battle was fought on 23-24 June…read more1314, between the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the army of King Edward II of England, during the First War of Scottish Independence. Robert Bruce was victorious and this formed a major turning point in the war, which ended 14 years later restoring the Scottish independence.

A good value for 5, especially if you are a history buff. The centre doesn't contain a museum per…read morese, because there are no artifacts. Yet they have a substantial exhibit explaining the battle and its political backstory and aftermath. There is also a twelve-minute film relating the exciting story through narration, music, and handsome drawings, plus a "living history" presentation. The visitor centre looks out upon a portion of the battlefield, and it is thrilling to stand there imagining the history that was made there nearly 700 years ago.

Great place for a dog walk. You can do a fairly short loop, or extend it right around the estate…read more Definitely a hidden gem in the area that isn't too busy even on a nice day. They have ample parking and there is a museum too.

For historians, even those whose knowledge of Scottish "history" (used loosely) stems from multiple…read moreviewings of Braveheart (yeah, you know who you are!), there are several sites in Stirling that are must visits. The Old Stirling Bridge is one of them; the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle being at least two others. Fortunately, Stirling isn't all that big, and you can easily walk between the three without too much effort, and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous river views, and a bit of actual historical education along the way, for your trouble. Just make sure you end up on the Old Stirling Bridge, and not the adjacent A9 overpass. It may look similar, but you wouldn't want to get run over by a lorry while daydreaming about Mel Gibson in a kilt and wielding a claymore. That would just be weird.

I thought I would have been able to walk to this while at Stirling castle but it looked quite a…read morewalk away so I optedW to snatch some quick photos while driving past on the coach which was just as thrilling for me as actually being on it and it is a stunning bridge as bridges go due to its history. Hopefully one day I might get the chance to actually stand on it, touch it, feel it but for now I'm happy to have this stunning photo.

Rough Castle is situated about half a mile from The Falkirk wheel…read more The castle was a Roman fort on The Antonine Wall. Although the acutual building is long gone you can, with a little imagination picture what it would have been like. All that remains are the ramparts and a few humps and bumps on the ground. The site has been excavated and a number of buildings were found. It is a picturesque site but ruined somewhat by electricity pylons and power cables. It is also here that you can see possably the best presearved part on the Antonine wall.

If the parking spaces are full drive towards Allendale park at the Underwood lockhouse and walk…read morealong the canal until you get opposite the entrance, there's a walk through tunnel under the canal, watch the slippery bits but it's a bit of a adventure!

I agree with the previous reviewer wholeheartedly. Ross Priory is one of the most overlooked…read morebuildings in Scotland. It is absolutely incredible. A must for visitors to Glasgow. Even the drink prices at the bar are reasonable. The only problem is, the priory is not anywhere near a train station. So you bring your car or get a train to Balloch then a taxi.

Beautiful architecture, a perfect setting, and several guest rooms make this a sublime wedding…read morevenue on Loch Lomond.

These spectacular Italianate buildings (splendid both inside and out) were finished in 1886 and the…read morebeautiful Victoria Tower (75m in height) can be seen dominating the skyline from many parts of the town. Unfortunately, the Municipal Buildings remain uncompleted to this day as a local man, Robert Cowan, refused to sell his business in front of the tower. As a result, the shop was inserted into one corner but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941, leaving the unusual effect still seen today. The bricks are different to the rest and this area has become known as 'Cowan's Corner'. These days the Municipal Buildings include the Town Hall and various Council offices. There are a few parking spaces nearby but it's very difficult to find a space. However, there is a large public car park only about 5 minutes walk away.

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.

Linlithgow Palace was another of the palaces we visited while on our British Isles cruise. This…read morepalace is located about 15 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland. Are you fans of the tv series Outlander? If you are, then you may recognize some parts of Linlithgow Palace that was featured in the series. Admission price is not too high, and the audio tour comes with the price of admission making it an even better deal. So if you've seen one castle, then you have seen them all right? Wrong because they are not all the same. Linlithgow Palace was not one of my favorites, but it was still a sight to admire and explore. Have fun learning about this historical landmark.

Rainbow Bridge is an integral feature of the Art Park. Located within the grounds of House For An…read moreArt Lover, the park was completed in 2008. I dig bridges, and few more so than this one. I've spent many an hour playing on it with my nieces and nephew - the kids love the perspex, multicoloured panels - they rotate and provide a great opportunity to play hide and seek. I'd highly recommend a visit - especially to burn off some of the kids energy!