The former capital of Scotland, Stirling is often called the “gateway to the highlands” and is steeped in history. It is dominated by its castle guarding the lowest crossing point of the river Forth from high up on its volcanic outcrop. The castle, like many of the historical sights around the town has multiple links to the rest of the European continent, and it is these longstanding European connections that this walk will highlight.
In addition to the events and European links highlighted on the walk, it is interesting to know that the Luftwaffe dropped one bomb on Stirling during the 2nd world war. This landed at Forthbank destroying the pitch at King’s Park FC stadium. This was reconstructed after the war about a mile away and is where the new local team, Stirling Albion, play. It is, of course, out of the destructive conflict of war between European nations, that the European Union of today was born.
We hope you might enjoy exploring Stirling and discovering the links with other European countries over the ages as much as we have enjoyed discovering them. The aim is that you might walk the walks – this first one being a 2.3km round-trip at “the top of the town”, but also that together we might add to the number and content of the walks.
Accessibility: Some short steep hills and minor uneven terrain. Moderate.
Length: 2.3km
