Stirling

Facts and Figures

Braveheart and Bannockburn…or Dylan, REM, Runrig and Ocean Colour Scene concerts on the Castle esplanade and top notch town-centre shopping? Mary Queen of Scots’ walled garden and the oldest bowling green in Scotland …or the country’s most up-to-date arts and music venue? The lofty splendour of the Wallace Monument…or high-tech companies from across the world drawn to the Castle Business Park? Somehow Stirling manages to embrace it all. Here’s a quick profile.

City "motto"

"The Britons stand by force of arms
The Scots are by this cross preserved from harms
The Castle & Bridge of Stirling town
Are in the compass of this seal set down."
1296 (translation from the Latin)

Population – Stirling district 86 370; designated Stirling city area over 41 000. Stirling is the third-fastest growing area in Scotland.

Famous sons/daughters – Billy Bremner (international footballer), Willie Carson (jockey), Jacqueline Pirie (dastardly Linda in Coronation Street), Jack McConnell ( former First Minister, Scottish Parliament - graduate of Stirling University and former leader of Stirling District Council), Kirsty Young (TV presenter), Kenny Logan (rugby internationalist), Alison McGrandles ( one of only a handful of women rugby players who have played 50 times for Scotland)

Famous landmarks – Stirling Castle, seat of many Scottish Kings. Wallace Monument, Stirling Bridge – scene of the Battle of Stirling Bridge of 1297, Church of the Holy Rude.

Claims to fame – Ancient capital of Scotland, home of Scotland’s earliest parliament at Cambuskenneth Abbey (1326), Battle of Bannockburn (1314) home to Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (HQ at Castle), Mary Queen of Scots spent much time here and fell in love with Darnley here. Their son James was baptised in the Castle. Church of the Holy Rude reputed to be the only church in the UK other than Westminster Abbey to have held a coronation (King James VI) and still be a living church today. John Knox also preached here.

Key attributes – internationally-popular university set in beautiful lake-side campus, HQ to major business names such as Scottish Amicable, Highland Distillers and Maxxium, major tourism centre the Castle alone attracting 400 000 visitors annually, expanding Thistle Marches shopping centre, new home to Scottish Institute of Sport and Scottish Swimming Centre.