Stirlingshire is central to Scotland and its history. Spanning the
boundary between the Highlands and Lowlands, and standing at the heart
of Scotland, the town of Stirling was 'the key of the Highlands'.
Granted city status in 2002 as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations,
it is a thriving city with a proud and distinctive identity, which
retains much of its ancient character and a wealth of fine heritage
buildings. Cattle were driven from all over Scotland to the great trysts
at Falkirk and local foundries fuelled the Industrial Revolution. The
military heritage of Stirlingshire is also in evidence in the numerous
battlefields and memorials in the area. The greater part of the western
section of the area includes vast swathes of great natural beauty, which
are most clearly represented by the outstanding scenery of the Trossachs
and Loch Lomond. The Millennium Link project and the monumental Kelpie
statues are two of the more recent additions to the gems of the area. 50
Gems of Stirling District explores the many places and their history
that make this part of Scotland so special, including natural features,
towns and villages, buildings, and places of historical interest. The
selection includes some of the major landmarks in the area and several
possibly lesser-known and more uncommon places.
