Date spot in Stirling
The Back Walk and the King's Knot
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.
From Dumbarton Road up to the castle, Old Town
Address: Back Walk, Dumbarton Road, Stirling FK8 2QA- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
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)
More from our Stirling guide
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 5APCross 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 0LJWalk 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)
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