Stirling is a county in the centre of Scotland near Perth (to the North West) and Falkirk to the East. Stirling has a population of 87,000, half of whom live in the town of Stirling itself. Notable towns include: Aberfoyle, Dunblane, Drymen, Strathblane and Crainlarich.

The City of Stirling has always been geographically important during the history and is known as ‘The Gateway to the Highlands’ to this day. There has been a settlement at the base of the Ochill Hills where Stirling now stands since the ‘Stone Age’; however it was only in the 12th century when Royal Charter made Stirling one of the population centres of Scotland. University of Stirling is actually nearer the town of Bridge of Allan, has 9,000 students and was founded in 1592 making it one of the oldest in Scotland.

Stirling Castle sits commandingly on top of a volcanic crag (like Edinburgh Castle) and has been a Royal residence for Monarchs from Scotland and the UK. It combines Gothic and Renaissance architecture in a powerful and intimidating keep which has been held siege several times. The British Army used it as a barracks during the 19^th century but it is better known as a tourist attraction associated with the great heroes of Scottish history such as Robert Bruce and William Wallace.

The most visited historic site in the county of Stirling is Bannockburn, site of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where the Scots Independence seekers beat a larger and better equipped English force. King Robert the Bruce led a smaller army of Scots against King Edward II of England in one of Scotland greatest victories.

The Wallace Monument has a statue of modern William Wallace (featured in the Mel Gibson movie Braveheart) and is positioned on Abbey Hill where the Scots hero gathered his army prior to the battle with Edward I of England in 1297. The monument also contains swords and genuine artefacts from the period of the ‘War of Independence’.