Forth Valley
Cheap date ideas in Stirling
Updated
You can see a lot of Stirling for very little. The Back Walk follows the old town walls under the castle rock, with the King’s Knot below, and Old Stirling Bridge leads to a riverside stroll to Cambuskenneth Abbey with the Wallace Monument in view. Bannockburn’s battlefield is free to walk, and Dumyat is a short, steep climb with a view over the Forth to the Highlands. On a wet day, the Stirling Smith is free and full of odd treasures, including what’s thought to be the world’s oldest football. For a few pounds more, there’s the Holy Rude, where James VI was crowned, a walk round Airthrey Loch and a film at the Macrobert, or the train to Bridge of Allan for coffee by the Allan Water.
Our picks
The Back Walk and the King's Knot
From Dumbarton Road up to the castle, Old Town
Address: Back Walk, Dumbarton Road, Stirling FK8 2QA- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
Follow the Back Walk, a path along the old town walls and under the castle rock, then look down on the King's Knot, a grassy royal garden shaped like a stepped octagon.
Why it's a good date: The best free walk in Stirling, with a new view round every corner. Loop it with the castle esplanade and finish at a café in the Old Town.
Photo: Syrio, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Church of the Holy Rude
St John Street, just below the castle
Address: St John Street, Stirling FK8 1ED- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Visit the medieval parish church where the infant James VI was crowned in 1567, with its original oak roof and a graveyard that looks out over the valley.
Why it's a good date: Quiet and full of stories, and the guides are happy to tell them. It opens to visitors in the warmer months; pair it with the Old Town Cemetery next door for the view.
Photo: John Lord, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Old Stirling Bridge
At the end of Union Street, north of the city centre
Address: Old Stirling Bridge, Union Street, Stirling FK9 5AP- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Culture
Cross the 15th-century stone bridge over the Forth, then follow the river path to the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey.
Why it's a good date: An easy riverside stroll with the Wallace Monument in view most of the way. The abbey's bell tower makes a good turning point, and it's lovely on a summer evening.
Photo: Iain Cameron, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Bannockburn battlefield
Glasgow Road, Bannockburn, two miles south of the city centre
Address: Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Glasgow Road, Stirling FK7 0LJ- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Culture
Walk out to the site of Robert the Bruce's 1314 victory to see his statue on horseback and the circular Rotunda memorial.
Why it's a good date: It costs nothing, and you can walk the open ground where the famous battle was fought. The visitor centre is closed for a revamp, but the grounds, statue and Rotunda stay open, so bring a picnic on a dry day.
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Dumyat
Sheriffmuir Road, above Bridge of Allan
Address: Pendreich car park, Sheriffmuir Road, Bridge of Allan FK9 4LS- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Active
Hike up Dumyat, the craggy western end of the Ochil Hills, for a view over Stirling, the Forth and the Highlands.
Why it's a good date: A short, steep hill walk that fits into an afternoon. Go on a clear evening, take layers, and treat yourselves to dinner in Bridge of Allan on the way home.
Photo: Adrianmckie, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum
Albert Place, Dumbarton Road, near the Back Walk
Address: 40 Albert Place, Dumbarton Road, Stirling FK8 2RQ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Browse the free town museum and gallery, home to what's thought to be the world's oldest football, plus Scottish paintings and local history.
Why it's a good date: Small and friendly, with plenty of odd treasures, so it's a good rain plan. It sits right by the start of the Back Walk, so you can go straight up to the castle if the weather clears.
Photo: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Airthrey Loch and the Macrobert
University of Stirling, Causewayhead Road
Address: Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA- Event
- Cheap and cheerful
- Culture
Walk round Airthrey Loch on the University of Stirling campus, then see a film or a show at the Macrobert Arts Centre.
Why it's a good date: A walk with swans and the Ochils behind, then something to watch, all in one place. The Macrobert has a cinema, theatre and café bar, so it works in the rain too.
Photo: Euan Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan, three miles north of Stirling
Address: Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan FK9 4HR- Café
- Cheap and cheerful
- Out of town
Take the short trip to the old spa town for a walk along the Allan Water and coffee or lunch on Henderson Street.
Why it's a good date: A slower, village-feel afternoon with plenty of independent cafés and pubs. It's on the train line, so nobody has to drive, and it's the natural place to finish after Dumyat.
Photo: Doug Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Doune Castle
Doune, eight miles north-west of Stirling
Address: Doune Castle, Castle Hill, Doune FK16 6EA- Trip
- Cheap and cheerful
- Culture
- Out of town
Drive or take the bus to the 14th-century castle used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Outlander and Game of Thrones.
Why it's a good date: The audio guide is narrated by Terry Jones, which sets the tone. It's one of the busiest castles in the area, so book ahead, then walk along the River Teith afterwards.
Photo: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Quick answers
Is Bannockburn battlefield open while the visitor centre is closed?
Yes. The visitor centre is closed for a revamp, but the grounds, Robert the Bruce's statue and the Rotunda stay open, and it costs nothing to walk them.
Can we get to Bridge of Allan without a car?
Yes. It's three miles north of Stirling on the train line, so nobody has to drive.
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