Easy, beautiful day trips from Stirling

One of the best things about Stirling is its location – centrally located in Scotland, it’s not only a beautiful and historic town that merits thorough exploration, it is also an ideal stepping stone to other places that might otherwise be just out of reach. In this week’s blog, we look at easy day trips from Stirling that have something for everyone, no matter who is in your holiday party.

Callander Meadows by the River Teith, an easy day trip from Stirling

Callander Meadows by the River Teith

Callander: Just 25 minutes’ drive north-west from Stirling is the picturesque town of Callander on the River Teith. This stunning little town provided the original filming location for the Dr Findlay’s Casebook series in the 60s. These days, it’s a town full of character, with lots to offer the day tourist. The shops are small, independent and quirky, ranging from tea shops to sweet and ice cream shops, cafes, restaurants, gifts and crafts, second hand bookshops, specialist walking and outdoor, health food and much more. There is ample parking by the River Teith at Callander Meadows, an ideal picnic spot and base for your day. For those with families, there’s also a large, well-maintained adventure playground right there. The Tourist Information Centre is helpful and well-stocked; ask about riverside walks along the Teith or the walk up to Bracklinn Falls – you may also want to visit the 13th-century Inchmahome Priory on the Lake of Menteith, just 8 miles away. For more information on Callander see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callander and for walks in Callander, see: http://www.incallander.co.uk/walks/easywalks.htm

The Lake, Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff, an easy day trip from Stirling

The Lake, Drummond Castle Gardens, Crieff

Crieff: Just a half-hour drive or 23 miles from Stirling is the town of Crieff, recent hosts to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or William and Kate as they are better known. The royal couple were there primarily to visit the just re-opened ‘Famous Grouse Experience’ at the Glenturret Whisky Distillery, well worth a visit for the whisky connoisseur. Gardeners will appreciate the stunning Drummond Gardens, two miles south of Crieff at Drummond Castle, while nature watchers won’t mind an extra 8 miles’ drive north beyond the town to Buchanty Spout. Salmon leap dramatically up these falls in autumn, but Buchanty Spout is worth a visit any season, especially after rainfall. All that said, you needn’t visit Crieff with a particular visitor experience in mind – it’s a beautiful town in its own right and well worth a wander at your leisure.

Atmospheric Doune Castle, just a few miles from Stirling

Atmospheric Doune Castle, just a few miles from Stirling

Doune: For such a little place, there is so much to see here! Just 8 miles north of Stirling on the River Teith, Doune has recently gained some celebrity – its historic castle has been a much-favoured location for the filming of the cult tv series ‘Game of Thrones’. It’s not the first time the castle has been used in high-profile filming – it provided the backdrop for ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ too. Doune Castle is well worth a visit at any time of year, and a stunning example of 14th century architecture on the banks of the river. Good place for a picnic too. Just outside of Doune in Deanston, you will find Deanston Malt, a traditional distillery on the site of a former cotton mill, now clearly signposted with a visitor centre and tours beginning at just £8. For those more interested in nature than whisky, why not visit the Red Kites at Argaty, one of the few chances you will get to see these magnificent birds of prey up close and in flight.

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