Stirling - things to do

[LickleLamb]

I am visiting Stirling in a couple of weeks for the day with friends (retired ladies) - can anyone recommend shops/ things to see and do other than the castle.

Wallace Monument.

There's a lot of steps to get to the top of the Wallace monument. There's a big shopping complex in one of the hill foot towns, Tillicoultry I think.

The Smith Art Gallery is very good. Also consider going to Bannockburn. They have 3D experiences to describe events around the battle then a guide tells you about critical events and asks the group what they’d do. Very interesting for adults as well as children.

Town shopping centre has some big empty bits but does have M&S, primark etc. There are a few more specialist arty type shops, the reclaimers in the shopping centre, made in Stirling and Clan artisan in the town area. There is a tk max and waitrose walkable from the town centre.

You can do a walk round the outskirts of the castle, the graveyard is pretty interesting. Next to wh Smith in the shopping centre there is a spiral stair case that takes you down to the bastion, interesting but will occupy all of about 5 minutes.

The Wallace monument is a bit out of the town, you'd need to probably drive/get bus. If you were driving, you could also go to Bridge of Allan for more specialist gifty/arty type shops.

If you like history type stuff, you can walk down to riverside and go over the footbridge into cambuskenneth and see the Abbey.

That's great thanks - has given me some ideas.

Tours of the Old Town Jail are quite interesting too, and not far from the castle. (They do a good escape room which is fun for all ages but that might not be the vibe you are going for!)

That sounds interesting thanks.

I'd second the Smith Gallery and Museum, which has a nice café. Also cafe at historic Cowane's Hospital https://cowanes.org.uk/

It's a nice circular walk round the King's Park and golf course. Good path, lovely views of the castle and not far from the Smith museum.

My mum, from Glasgow, once had a weekend stay in Stirling. Upon check-in, she asked the receptionist for their evening entertainment recommendations. His response: "I'd get the train into Glasgow, if you want a night out" 😅

Suffice to say, my mum did not do this and had a lovely weekend in Stirling!

Don’t bother going to Tillicoultry for the so called shopping complex mentioned before , it’s very small and half the units are empty !

To be honest I’d get on a train to Glasgow..

Where are you travelling from and will you have a car?

"Tinsel & Tartan" is a fabulous Christmas shop at the top of King Street.

We're coming from Ayr - going to see the Kelpies so thought Stirling wouldn't be too far away to go on to.
Doing Edinburgh another day so can't go onto there.

I would do two days in Edinburgh personally.

Had a nice day in Stirling. The Scottish Antiques Centre near Doune first - nice coffee shop there. Then Hermann's for lunch, then the Castle which was interesting, we took our time going round, misty so the scenery changed every half hour! Then to Doune - Woodlane, gift shops, sadly Desirable Curio was shut as a Wed. Great day out.