Stirling Guide

Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area.

The city is clustered around a large fortress and mediæval old-town. It is a centre for local government, higher education, retail, and light industry. Its population (as of the 2001 census) was 41,243, making it the smallest city in Scotland.

One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a Royal burgh by King David I in 1130, which it remained until 1975, when the county of Stirlingshire was absorbed into Central Region. In 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status.

Here are some facts about Stirlingshire:

• The small town of Doune in Stirlingshire was once famous throughout the world for manufacturing pistols. Some even say that it was a pistol made here in Stirlingshire that fired the first shot of the American War of Independence.

• Stirling carse, the flat farmland stretching west across Stirlingshire from the castle, is an ancient peat bog. When it was drained back in the 18th century people were amazed to find the remains of whales. Nowadays, hay grown on the Stirlingshire carse is reckoned to be the best-quality hay in the country, apparently top thoroughbred horses won't eat anything else.

• It was in Stirlingshire that Robert the Bruce helped secure independence for Scotland through his decisive victory at Bannockburn, just outside Stirling, in 1314. Together the Bannockburn Monument and nearby statue of Robert the Bruce are one of the most visited sites in Stirlingshire.

• Stirlingshire is home to many of the most famous battles in Scottish history, and the Wallace Monument commemorates William Wallace, the 13th Century Scottish hero who fought the Battle of Stirling Bridge. The monument, which is a sandstone tower built in 1869 with contributions from, among others, Garibaldi, is one of Stirlingshire's most well loved attractions.

• Granted it's own coat of arms in 1890, Stirlingshire's banner depicts a St Andrews cross and a red lion. The weapons placed around the cross represent the weapons used against the English during the battle of Bannockburn.

• Culcreuch castle, in one of Stirlingshire's prettiest villages, Fintry, is home to the largest colony of bats in the UK.

Here are just some places to visit in and around Stirlingshire: