Gargunnock is a small village only several miles from the City of Stirling. It is situated on the south edge of the Carse of Stirling, at the feet of the Gargunnock Hills, part of the Campsie Fells. Gargunnock was formerly known as Gargowans and both its current and archaic name translate roughly to "oddly shaped hill" and seemingly refer to Kier Hill, an unusual knoll south of the village square and west of the kirkyard.

Several small burns flow down from the Gargunnock Hills through and around the village and join the River Forth.

The remains of an Iron Age fortified house known as a broch can be found to the west of the village in the Leckie estate owned by the Younger family.

The last naturally suitable crossing point on the Forth before reaching Stirling Bridge is situated just outside of Gargunnock. This, coupled with the land condition and drainage around the feet or the Gargunnock hills, made Gargunnock the ideal location to build a farming settlement.

During the occupation of Scotland, the English posted a garrison in the Peel tower on the outskirts of the village to protect this important ferry. It is believed that William Wallace brought his army through Gargowans, setting up fort on the Kier Hill, to take control of this part of the river in advance of the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

More recently, during the nineteenth century Gargunnock was famous for its fine oak-spale baskets, until intensive deforestation removed the raw materials necessary for this trade and the industry moved to Loch Lomond.