Fabulous Follies Near Stirling

The Dunmore Pineapple, just outside Airth, one of several follies near Stirling

The Dunmore Pineapple, just outside Airth

Follies are extravagant buildings that often serve no purpose other than ornament. Some pretend to be something else, such as Chinese temples, Egyptian pyramids, or even ruins, while others were created to represent moral virtues or provide construction work for the poor during famine. Whatever the intention, these buildings are invariably quirky and intriguing photo opportunities – and what’s more, the UK is full of them. This week’s blog takes a look at some fabulous follies near Stirling.

The Dunmore Pineapple: Described as ‘the most bizarre building in Scotland’, the Dunmore Pineapple lies just 8 miles of Stirling near Airth, Falkirk, within the walled gardens of Dunmore Park, the ancestral home of the Earls of Dunmore. In 1761, the 4th Earl of Dunmore created a hothouse, incorporating a number of architectural styles, as part of the Park’s gardens. An intricate system of furnaces heated the building, and were vented by chimneys disguised as Grecian urns. The heat sustained, amongst other fruits, the growth of pineapples. A 14-foot Pineapple-shaped cupola was added as the finishing touch to the hothouse, giving the folly both its name and fame. The orchards in front of the Pineapple make a peaceful spot for a picnic on a warm day, while the high walling of the gardens shelters visitors from winds on colder ones. The approach to the Pineapple is raucous with rooks in autumn, and provides a rare opportunity to hear larks rising in summertime.

Ossian's Hall, in Dunkeld, Perthshire, just one of several follies near Stirling

Ossian’s Hall, in Dunkeld, Perthshire

Ossian’s Hall: Visitors to Perthshire shouldn’t miss a visit to Ossian’s Hall, a captivating folly just outside of Dunkeld, and just one hour from Stirling. Ossian’s Hall was built in 1758 over the Black Linn waterfall, a dramatic spate on the River Braan. Originally intended to ‘shock, surprise and amaze’, the Hall initially incorporated a system of mirrors to surround visitors with 360 degree images of the foaming waters, an effect enhanced by the cupola shape which also amplifies the noise of the Falls. Notable visitors to the folly included Wordsworth, Queen Victoria, Mendelssohn and Turner, though after its heyday, the folly fell into prolonged disrepair. Brilliantly refurbished in 2007, Ossian’s Hall has reclaimed the intrigue of its past, with sliding doors, mirrored artwork, and a secret entrance. Ossian’s Hall is a day trip in itself. Enjoy lunch in Dunkeld, and don’t hurry the beautiful walk up to the Hall through the tall Douglas Firs of Hermitage Wood.

The National Monument, Edinburgh, overlooking the capital from Calton Hill

The National Monument, Edinburgh, overlooks the capital from Calton Hill

The National Monument, Edinburgh: A more controversial inclusion in the ‘folly list’ is the National Monument in Edinburgh. This unfinished construction on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill dominates the skyline of the city and was originally intended as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers and sailors who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Modelled upon the Parthenon in Athens, work began on the building in 1826 and was abandoned just three years later due to lack of funds. A handful of nicknames were coined for the failed venture, amongst them ‘Edinburgh’s Disgrace’ and ‘Edinburgh’s Folly’. Despite its unfortunate beginnings, the building affords unrivalled and photogenic views over Edinburgh, as well as a novel way to get your bearings before enjoying a day trip in the capital. Hop on a train from Stirling and alight 30 minutes later at Waverley, before taking a walk or a taxi up to Calton Hill.

For directions and public transport to all of these attractions, these websites are useful:

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