Discover Alone
“Steps will kill your legs”
The Wallace Monument. It’s a massive sixty-seven-metre tower sitting right on top of Abbey Craig, looking down on Stirling with the confidence of a giant who knows he’s right. It’s dedicated to Sir William Wallace, the knight who gave the English a proper kicking around the fourteenth century. You climb two hundred and forty-six steps to get up there, which will make your calves feel like they’ve been through a blender. Inside, there are three exhibition rooms packed with history, so you can learn something while you’re gasping for breath. Mind you, if you need a wheelchair, this place is a bit of a no-go, as the stairs are unforgiving. Up top, the view is stunning, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the city and the surrounding fields. It’s not just a statue; it’s a whole experience in verticality. You’ll see the landscape spread out below, making you feel like a very important, very out-of-breath king.
Photo: Sgmiller4038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Then Tom went looking for the oddest places around it.
Stop 2 · Hop back in the car, 5 minutes
Tullibody, Stirling Road, Old Bridge
“Bridge picking its nose”
Tullibody Old Bridge has been standing on Stirling Road since the sixteenth century, picking its nose while the wind keeps complaining about its posture. It’s tired of being called old, so pretend you’re just passing through with a coin for luck. Keep that coin in your pocket; it might pay for your taxi home.
Recorded as: Road Bridge (16th Century).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 47145Photo: Doug Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0
More about Tullibody, Stirling Road, Old Bridge →.jpg){kind=link}
Stop 3 · A short walk away
River Devon
“Bishop feared the mace”
River Devon’s bishop refused to visit because he was afraid of getting his robes wet by the mace found in the water. This unassigned period artifact is floating around in history with no clear date, much like a duck on a rainy day. It probably thinks all the other rivers are too busy and doesn’t want any of that drama. Have a sandwich here
Recorded as: Findspot (19th Century), Mace (period Unassigned), Sinker (period Unassigned).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 47200Photo: William Starkey, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Stop 4 · A 5-minute spin away
Alloa, Tullibody Road, Gean House
“Building too stubborn to drop”
Gean House refuses to fall down because it’s too stubborn to admit it’s tired of being on Tullibody Road. It’s got no assigned period, which means it can be whatever era it wants whenever it feels like it, which is very cheeky for a building. Take a mate and argue about what it was originally for; you’ll both lose.
Recorded as: House (period Unassigned).
From the Historic Environment Scotland record 47195Photo: Elliott Simpson, CC BY-SA 2.0
More about Alloa, Tullibody Road, Gean House →.jpg){kind=link}
Stop 5 · Hop back in the car, 15 minutes
The Gathering Stone
“Stone in three pieces”
The Gathering Stone on Sheriffmuir sits among trees with a name that sounds ready to call everyone to order. Tradition links it to the Highland army before the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, but the stone itself may be older, perhaps a fallen standing stone. I would ask it to settle the argument, yet it has already endured enough people speaking for it. Historic Environment Scotland records the stone within the battlefield landscape and treats the army's gathering here as local tradition. An older map called it the Karling Stone. Today's remains are split into three pieces; the national record says they were enclosed by an iron cage in the nineteenth century and notes stories about how the break happened. Those are useful clues, but not permission to turn a tale into a dated certainty. Stand beside the actual remains and consider how many different meanings one stone can carry. A path leads northwest from the Clan MacRae Monument near the minor Sheriffmuir road, giving a public way to reach the spot. The surrounding moor and woodland are part of the visit, with the battle's history spread across a much wider landscape than this one marker. Follow the route and respect any local signs. The stone is not a grand tower that finds you first; a little attention is needed, which makes the discovery more satisfying. Access to the battlefield path is free at all times according to the visitor guide, but check conditions before walking in poor weather. Come for the Jacobite association, then look again at the older, broken stone under its iron protection. It has held more than one story without needing to shout any of them.
Recorded as: Archaeological place.
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) n1902358201Photo: Robert Smallman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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The whole day on one map
See everything else around Wallace Monument →
Over a million places across Ireland and Britain, all free. Explorer Tom has a story for nearly every one.