Situated in the very center of Scotland , the city of Stirling is the city with the smallest population in all of Scotland, yet one with a very large part of her history/ Stirling’s status as a city was only granted in 2002 to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth.

Some of Scotland’s most significantly historical sites can be found in and around Stirling, no less than the famous Stirling Castle itself. The castle overlooks the entire city, and the breathtaking views of the Wallace Monument among other sites are unforgettable to anyone with even the slightest trace of Scottish blood coursing through their veins.

For a city so steeped in history, it goes without saying that there are many museums and art galleries spread around Stirling’s compact city center. Some of the smaller family owned galleries are well worth a visit, including the Changingroom Contemporary Art Gallery, the Fotheringham Gallery and the Macrobert Arts Centre. These galleries display works from local artists and attract visitors not only from around Scotland but also from all of the UK as well as from overseas.

Shopping in Stirling is confined to in and around the city’s Thistle Mall, where UK national chain and department stores vie for trade with locally based retailers offering a variety of locally produced merchandise. There are many traditional Scottish tea rooms to be found in Stirling as well as some pretty fine restaurants offering a choice of local menus as well as the best of continental, Indian or Chinese restaurants. Stirling is home to many examples of what is a typical Scottish pub that will usually have on show a very wide selection of the finest malt whiskies to warm the heart of visitors and Stirling folk alike.

For those who want to explore the countryside of Central Scotland the options are many. Villages such as Bridge of Alan, Dunblane with its famous Hydro, and Doune are examples of typical Scottish towns. For the adventurous driver it is possible to take the long and winding yet highly scenic road from Stirling that will eventually take you to the southernmost tip of Loch Lomond. Stirling is very close to the two strongest cultural cities in Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh. Two and a half miles north of Stirling is the former spa town of Bridge of Allan. On the banks of Allan Water and five miles north of Stirling is Dunblane, an important ecclesiastical centre since the 7th century. Eight miles northwest of Stirling is the village of Doune, the location for the filming of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".

Renting a car can be an economical way to travel around Stirling and the region. There are several pick up areas around the city with discounts are on offer for rentals of three days and over. Car Hire in Stirling comes as a ‘fully inclusive’ package which includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, passenger indemnity insurance and cover for third party, fire and theft - and usually insurance excess. To rent a car anywhere in the United Kingdom, you must show a full driver's licence and a credit card in the driver’s name. Cars are usually rented to customers between the ages of 21 to 70 years.Hiring a car is a great idea if you want to use Stirling as your base for a three day minimum travel experience around the region