Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of Scotland. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth. Historically it was strategically important as the "Gateway to the Highlands", with its position near the boundary between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, and its crossing of the Forth, the nearest to the river mouth.
One of the principal royal strongholds of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was created a Royal burgh by King David I in 1130, which it remained until 1975, when the county of Stirlingshire was absorbed into Central Region. In 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status.Originally a Stone Age settlement, Stirling has been strategically significant since at least the Roman occupation of Britain, due to its naturally defensible crag and tail hill (latterly the site of Stirling Castle), and its commanding position at the foot of the Ochil Hills on the border between the Lowlands and Highlands, at the lowest crossing point of the River Forth. It remained the river's lowest crossing until the construction of the Kincardine Bridge further downstream in the 1930s. It is supposed that Stirling is the fortress of Iuddeu or Urbs Giudi where Oswiu of Northumbria was besieged by Penda of Mercia in 655, as recorded in Bede and contemporary annals.
The King's knot, an octagonal stepped mound, now grassed over, once formed part of the magnificient formal gardens laid out beneath Stirling Castle, about 1630.
Impressive tower commemorating Scotland's greatest freedom fighter, Sir William Wallace (1267 - 1305). Erected by public subscription and opened in 1869. The top of the 220 foot tower reached by 246 steps commands one of the best views in Scotland. Three halls or chambers house Wallace's famous double-handed broadsward, a talking head where you can 'meet' Wallace and learn of his struggles to free Scotland, a Scottish 'Hall of heroes' and a new exhibition which tells the fascinating story behind the building of the monumnet, inlcuding the fund raising campaign, the design competition and the building of what has become a national landmark. Multi lingual audio tour.
Strategic military key to the kingdom, particularly during the 13th and 14th century Wars of Independence and later the favourite residence of the Stuart monarchs.
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