Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fabulous
Dunblane Cathedral
(HS;
www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk
; Cathedral Sq;
admission free; 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat & 2-5pm Sun Apr-Sep, 9.30am-4pm Mon-Sat &
2-4pm Sun Oct-Mar)
is well worth a detour. It's a superb, elegant Gothic sandstone build-
ing. The lower parts of the walls date from Norman times, the rest mainly from the 13th to
15th centuries, though the bell tower stood alongside an earlier 12th-century structure. A
10th-century carved Celtic stone is at the nave's head, and a standing stone commemor-
ates the town's slain children.
Just down from the cathedral, the musty old
Leighton Library
(
www.leightonlibrary.co.uk
;
61 High St; admission free; 11am-1pm Mon-Sat May-
Sep)
, dating from 1684, is the oldest private library in Scotland. There are 4500 books in
90 languages.
You can walk to Bridge of Allan from Dunblane along Darn Rd in about an hour − it's
an ancient path once used by monks. There are also frequent buses and trains from Stirl-
ing to Dunblane.
DOUNE
POP 1635
Doune is not far beyond Dunblane, on the road to Callander. Stop here to visit magnificent
Doune Castle
(HS;
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
;
adult/child £5/3; 9.30am-5.30pm
Apr-Sep, to 4.30pm Oct-Mar, closed Thu-Fri Nov-Mar)
, one of the best-preserved 14th-
century castles in Scotland. It was a favourite royal hunting lodge, but was also of great
strategic importance because it controlled the route between the Lowlands and Highlands.
Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed here, as did Bonnie Prince Charlie, who used it to imprison
government troops. There are great
views
from the castle walls, and the lofty
gatehouse
is
very impressive, rising nearly 30m. Some may recognise the castle from
Monty Python
and the Holy Grail
.
Doune is 8 miles northwest of Stirling.
First
(
www.firstgroup.com
)
buses run every
hour or two (30 minutes), less frequently on Sunday.
THE FALKIRK WHEEL
Scotland's canals were once vital avenues for goods transport, but the railway age left them to fall into dereliction.
A millennium project restored two of Scotland's major canals, the Union and the Forth & Clyde. With a difference
in level of 115ft, the two were once linked by an arduous series of 11 locks, but the construction of the unique