Historically the capital of Scotland as it controlled movement
between the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. The battles of Stirling
Bridge and Bannockburn, two of the most decisive battles in Scottish history
were fought here.
The royal charter for Stirling
Castle dates from the 12th century, and the Stuart kings lived here from
the 13th century. James VI was living here when he acceded to the English
throne.
Interesting buildings in Stirling are
Argyll's
Lodging, a 17th century Renaissance Mansion in Castle Wynd
Mar's Wark, the ornate palace of the Earl of Mar
The Church
of the Holy Rude, where the last coronation in Scotland took place
The National Wallace Monument to the north east of the city has commanding
views and Wallace's broadsword
Bannockburn
Heritage Centre with information and exhibitions of the battle in 1314 which
led to independence
Perth
A series of towns on this site have been destroyed in wars.
Then during the Reformation, Knox and his followers destroyed the monasteries.
Today you can see the Stone of Destiny on the Scone Palace, Kinnoull Hill
overlooks the city, the Black Watch Museum and the Old Perth Trail through
the town
St Andrews
Founded by St Rule in the 4th century when his ship, carrying
the bones of St Andrew ran ashore
here.The cathedral, now in ruins following the Reformation, was built in 1318
and was the largest in Scotland. The ruined castle was the Bishops Palace,
and the bishops were tyrants in the 15th and 16th centuries, burning a number
of martyrs at the stake. Eventually Knox, with the help of the French navy
broke the power of the church, capturing the castle and taking the bishop
prisoner.
The university founded in 1414 is one of the oldest in Britain.
The town is perhaps best known as the home of golf, with
the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, founded in 1745, overlooking the famous Old
Course on the links to the north of the town
Also worth visiting in the area is the old market town of
Cupar and the port of Dundee
Pitlochry
Pitlochry is set on the River Tummel (the upper Tay). It
grew as a Victorian resort town , and now has the added attraction of an underwater
viewing chamber to see the salmon migrating up river, as well as two whisky
distilleries.
In the area you can find
Aberfeldy - Wades
bridge over the Tay dates from 1733, and a memorial to the Black Watch fist
raised by Wade in 1733
Blair Atholl -
a small village, a large castle, Blair Castle
home of the Duke of Atholl and the Atholl Highlanders, Britain's only private
army
Dunkeld - an attractive
small town with an old cathedral beautifully situated on the banks of the
River Tay. The cathedral was in ruins since 1560, but the choir have been
roofed over, and is now the parish church
Killiecrankie - site
of a famous victory by the Jacobite Highlanders, with details of the battle
in the visitors centre.
Kenmore - a pretty
village on Loch Tay, the Tay salmon fishing season starts annually at the
16th century Kenmore Hotel (said to be Scotland's oldest Inn) on 15th January
