Stirling Tourist Attractions

William Alexander of Menstrie, founder of the Scottish colony of Nova Scotia in North America, built this town house on Castle Wynd. About 1632 it was acquired by the Earl of Stirling, Governor of Nova Scotia, but some 24 years later the Renaissance house passed to the Earl of Argyll, whose name it now bears.

Buildings ranging from the 16th to the 19th centuries line the bustling Broad Street in the old town. Southeast of the castle, and separated from it by a dip, stands the Gothic Church of the Holy Rood. Its most impressive feature is the main nave with its Transitional-style huge oak ceiling. It dates from about 1270 but was altered in the 15th C. In 1542 at the age of eight months Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of Scotland in the church and, 15 years later in 1567, her one-year-old son James VI received the crown here with the reformer John Knox preaching the sermon.

The former town residence of the Earl of Mar at one end of Broad Street was built in Renaissance style in 1570 but was destroyed by the Jacobites in 1746.

Along Broad St in Stirling lies Norrie's House (17th century) followed by the Tolbooth, former prison which was built between 1703 and 1706 and extended between 1806 and 1811.It now serves as a music and arts venue.

The medieval stone bridge (ca. 1400) over the Forth at the north end of Stirling should not be confused with the bridge about 100yd/100m further up river which gave its name to the battle of 1297.

Located in Kippen Stirling, Kippen Smiddy is a typical rural, early 18th century blacksmith's shop. The shop formed part of a dwelling-house occupied by the same family of smiths from 1721 to 1986.The house contains many authentic tools and artifacts.

Menstrie Castle was the birthplace of Sir William Alexander, Jame's VI's Lieutenant for the Plantation of Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Commemoration Room tells the story of this ill-fated scheme.

This annual traditional festival takes place in mid-October. Events aim to promote the Gaelic language and include choral concerts, dance performances and poetry readings.

This annual week-long festival takes place in mid-July, focusing on Scottish customs and traditions. Pipe bands, Highland dancing, fiddling and ceilidhs are only some of the events included in the full program.

This simple memorial cairn to R.B. Cunninghame, a noted author, was constructed in 1937 after his death, but moved to its current location in 1981.

King Street, now pedestrianized, and the Thistle Shopping Centre opposite the railway station offer the best choice of shops.