The City of Stirling is in central Scotland, about forty-two kilometers northeast of Glasgow and sixty kilometers northwest of Edinburgh.
Traditionally the county town of Stirlingshire, Stirling is the administrative centre for the Stirling council area.
Regarded as the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, Stirling is situated on the River Forth.
The area is known to have been inhabited for at least four thousand years, as a stone cist was found in Stirling containing bones dating from 2152 to 2021 BC, and a surviving structure, on Gillies Hill, is a fort built by Iron Age people more than two thousand years ago.
During the early Medieval ages, Scottish kings used Stirling as a strategic location to control the Scottish Lowlands. In 1297, William Wallace led the Scottish army to victory against the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, a battle that is depicted in the movie, "Braveheart." Stirling Castle was the site of another battle, the Battle of Bannockburn, in 1314, in which the Scottish army, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English army led by King Edward II, securing Scotland's independence.
Stirling became the royal capital of Scotland when King James V moved his court to the city in the 16th century. James VI was declared King of Scotland in 1567, when he was just 13 months old.
The Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and a leader of the Scottish Reformation, John Knox preached at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling in 1559.
Situated on a crag, Stirling Castle is one of the most historically and architecturally significant castles in Scotland. Surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, it formed a strong defensive position guarding what was then the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth. Most of its principal buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries, while a few structures remain from the 14th century. Before Scotland's union with England, Stirling Castle was one of the most used Scottish royal residences, serving as both a palace and a fortress. The castle has withstood at least eight sieges, the last being in 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charlie was unsuccessful in taking the castle.
Stirling's ancient churches are also highlights of the city's Medieval architecture. The Church of the Holy Rude was founded in the 12th century and has been central to the city's religious life since. Situated in the city centre, the structure is open for daily tours, although it continues to function as a place of worship. The building is surrounded by a beautiful graveyard, the final resting place for many notable Scots.
Another Stirling landmark is the Old Town Jail, a former prison that has since become a tourist attraction. The current structure was built in the early 19th century to replace a former jail. It was in use until the late 19th century when it was replaced by the nearby Cornton Vale Prison. Guided tours of the building take about an hour.
Argyll's Lodging is a large townhouse built in the early 17th century. Designed by William Bruce, it was commissioned for the Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll, and remained in the Campbell family for nearly two hundred years, and was occupied throughout the Jacobite uprisings. Following the unification of Scotland and England, the structure became the residence of the military governor of Stirling Castle. Since then, it has served as a college, a maternity hospital, and as a residence.
Stirling consists of several neighborhoods, many with unique histories and heritage of their own. Top of the Town includes Broad Street, Castle Wynd, Ballengeich Pass, Lower Castle Hill Road, Damley Street, Baker Street, St. John Street, and St. Mary's Wynd, all of which lead to Stirling Castle.
The city has a substantial retail sector that serves the surrounding communities as well as the city itself. Centred largely in the city centre, it includes a large number of chain stores. Recently, a regeneration project on the site of Stirling's former port area and a former Ministry of Defence site, adjacent to the Stirling Railway Station, is intended to develop a new waterfront district linked to the railway station via Forthside Bridge. Known as Forthside, it includes retail, commercial, and residential elements designed to expand the city centre area, linking it to the River Forth, which was cut off from the city centre with the construction of the A9 bypass in the 1960s.
Currently, the city itself, in the hands of the Stirling Council, and the University of Stirling are the largest employers in the city, although knowledge-related industries, such as research and development, are clustered around the university.
Many Stirling workers commute to work, although there are fewer commuting to work in other areas than there are who travel into the city for work. Roughly half of Scotland's population resides within an hour of Stirling.
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Situated on the site of the Battle of Bannockburn on the outskirts of historic Stirling, Scotland, the King Robert Hotel is a family-operated hotel with fifty-two bedrooms, a well as family rooms that can accommodate up to five people, and a fully-renovated self-catering holiday let that can sleep up to eight guests. The address is posted, and the location is shown on a map. Rooms and common areas are shown in photographs, and an overview of its on-site lounge and restaurant are included.
https://www.kingroberthotel.co.uk/
Founded in 1953, the Ogilvie Group began as a construction company in Stirling, Scotland, where it remains, although it has branched out into other areas of service, such as vehicle contract hire, daily rentals, IT, surveying, and home construction, and has office throughout the United Kingdom. Its history, divisions, locations, and contacts are published on the site, along with career opportunities, and client testimonials, with additional information about each of its divisions.
https://www.ogilvie.co.uk/
Dating from at least the early 12th century, the castle's current buildings were mostly constructed between 1490 and 1600. Stirling Castle is the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland. Several Scottish Kings and Queens were crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, and others were born or died there. Its history and stories are told, along with information about visiting the castle, schedules of events, and online ticket sales.
https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/
Established in 1994, the website had promoted businesses in Stirling, Scotland using a paid subscriber business model for twenty-five years, but has been powered by Placeity.com since 2020. Businesses are listed by type in categories and subcategories, with continually updated information about each. Included is a local business directory, a directory of Stirling accommodations, which can also be found on a map, along with places to eat or drink, and shopping venues.
https://stirling.co.uk/
This guide to Stirling, Scotland includes an overview of the city and surrounding area, including historical and architectural attractions, guided tours, scheduled programmes and activities, including the ability to purchase a Stirling City Pass, which offers admittance to Stirling's top attractions and some extras. A mobile application may also be downloaded. Transportation tips, and places to stay and eat are featured, along with trip planning resources.
https://www.yourstirling.com/
