Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stirling, Loch Lomond and the
Trossachs
The central lowlands of Scotland were, for several centuries, the most
strategically important area in the country. In 1250, a map of Britain was
compiled by a monk of St Albans, which depicted Scotland as two separate
land masses connected only by the thin band of Stirling Bridge; although
this was a figurative interpretation, it is true that Stirling was once the only
gateway from the fertile central belt to the rugged, mountainous north. For
long periods of Scotland's history kings, queens, nobles, clan chiefs and
soldiers wrestled for control of the area, and it's no surprise that today the
landscape is littered with remnants of the past - well-preserved medieval
towns and castles, royal residences and battle sites.
7
Lying at the heart of Scotland,
Stirling
and its fine
castle
, from where you can see both
snowcapped Highland peaks and Edinburgh, are unmissable for anyone wanting to
grasp the complexities of Scottish history. he castle esplanade commands an
impressive view of the surrounding area, including the rocket-like
National Wallace
Monument
, a Victorian homage to a local hero.
To the south of the city, on the road to Edinburgh, lies
Falkirk
, its industrial heritage now
enlivened by the intriguing Falkirk Wheel; to the east, the gentle Ochil Hills run towards
Fife. he highlight of the string of towns at the foot of the Ochils is handsome
Dollar
,
from where a path leads up the steep glen to dramatically perched Castle Campbell. he
flat plain extending west, the
Carse of Stirling
, has the little-visited
Campsie Fells
on its
southern edge and the fabled mountains, glens, lochs and forests of the
Trossachs
,
stretching west from
Callander
to Loch Lomond, to the north. Here you'll find abundant
opportunities for hiking and mountain biking, as well as sublime mountain scenery.
On the western side of the region,
Loch Lomond
is the largest - and most romanticized -
stretch of fresh water in Scotland. At the heart of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
National Park, the peerless scenery of the loch and its famously “bonnie banks” can be
tainted by the sheer numbers of tourists and day-trippers who stream towards it in summer.
It can get similarly clogged in parts of the neighbouring Trossachs, although there's much to
appreciate once you break away from the main routes. he area is particularly good for
outdoor activities
: it's traversed by the
Glasgow-Loch Lomond-Killin cycleway
; well-
managed forest tracks are ideal for mountain biking; the hills of the Trossachs provide great
walking country; and the
West Highland Way
, Scotland's premier long-distance footpath,
winds along the length of Loch Lomond up to Fort William in the Highlands.
GETTING AROUND AND INFORMATION
CENTRAL SCOTLAND
While Stirling, Falkirk and Perth are well served by trains
from all over Scotland, the rest of the region is only
accessible on sporadic local bus services so you may find it
easier to have your own transport. Many people opt to
explore the Trossachs by mountain bike. For a bus network
map see
W
firstgroup.com.
Tourist information
See
W
visitstirling.org.
The Antonine Wall
p.289
The West Highland Way
p.293
Hiking and biking in the Trossachs
p.296
Rob Roy
p.297
