Around Stirling: Walk 1

Tony Brotherton

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'Scotland's newest city' says the blurb (and surely it's more deserving than other contenders I've heard proposed for city status recently, in what has become an unseemly 'dash for cash'!) Given its historical and strategic importance, it is surprising that Stirling wasn't elevated to city status long before now.

The walk follows part of the Historic Trail around the Old Town and visits Stirling Castle and the Beheading Stone, crosses the Forth via Stirling Auld Brig and takes in the Wallace Monument and Cambuskenneth Abbey. Mystery surrounds The King's Knot, overlooked in the course of this walk. Writers over more than six centuries have linked the landmark to the legend of King Arthur. Sir David Lindsay, the 16th Century Scottish writer, stated in 1529 that Stirling Castle was home of the 'Chapell-royall, park, and Tabyll Round'. Press reports in August 2011 speculate that archaeologists may have discovered beneath the King's Knot the site of King Arthur's Round Table. Work at the site is ongoing and the interim results are displayed in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum nearby (see Additional Information).

Scotland - Central Scotland - Stirling - Town or city

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Castle, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Museum, Nature Trail, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

20/09/2020 - Mike Dickinson

Absolutely fantastic walk. We parked at the Linden Avenue Car park as well, it's very close to the walk start. It passes a Waitrose supermarket on way back if you need to pick up any food on your return to the car. As of 18th September 2020 all 4 ticket machines are out of order with covers over them so parking is free, apparently been like this since August. Take a good camera and a picnic, loads of spots with views to have a lovely lunch.

16/05/2015 - Duncan Grey

This was an enjoyable historical walk. Not entirely 'easy' given the hills you have to climb but a good walk with lots to see. It does, however, need updating as the starting point (the Tourist Information Centre) has moved up the hill and is now in St John's Street by the Jail (which is now closed as a tourist attraction, unfortunately). I parked very inexpensively at the Linden Avenue Car Park and bought a town map which proved invaluable even before I started the walk! Other points: at WM9 the 'visitor's centre' seems now to be a shop; at WM13 the 'large roundabout' is the Customs Roundabout and features a clock tower; at WM16 there are 246 steps to the top, and on the return you can walk down the slope to the Wallace Monument visitors centre for refreshments. From here turn left along Hillfoots Road, left again on Logie Road to the CAuseway Roundabout, then follow the road along to where you crossed earlier. Ladysneuk Road is signposted 'Cambuskennet' and 'Abbey'. Thanks for the walk!

15/02/2012 - Robert Gemmell

Very enjoyable and historical walk. Only problem I found was with the on street parking mentioned in the text. This is pay and display with a maximum time of 4 hours. I didn't have much time to spare after completing the walk. All I'd done was to take my time to have a good look around the old town and take plenty photos. Had I wished to actually enter any of the attractions along the route, I would have been late back to the car, risking getting a parking ticket. This isn't the authors fault, but if you'd like enough time to follow the walk, visiting some of the properties along the way (Castle, Wallace Monument, etc), have a sit down for a rest or two along the way, stop off for a snack or lunch, or even have a look round the shops in the city centre, then I'd recommend looking for somewhere to park for more than 4 hours. There's free on street parking outside the park at point 16 on the route. Or you could park in Cambuskenneth Village.