Scotland Recap: Stirling and Falkirk

Falkirk Wheel HDR, a photo by Ken J. Fitzpatrick on Flickr.

Scotland is a thrill of nostalgia in some, a source of fascination for others, and makes some people just geek out. Film, history, relics, and architecture have the power to captivate us, and a true Britophile likes nothing better than a bit of the Isles that feels extra-special, significant only to a "chosen few."

Stirling and Falkirk offers many chances for Scotland fans to connect with their favorite pieces of lore and history:

• Monty Python lovers, rejoice!  Stirling's Castle Doune—the set of the infamous Monty Python and the Holy Grail—hosts the annual Monty Python Quest. Dress up as your favorite Monty Python character, keep your coconuts handy, and order tickets early because the event is limited to 500 attendees.
• You might be a William Wallace fan if... (1) You've watched Braveheart more than five times, (2) You own an authentic replica of his double-handed broadsword (3) You know that Falkirk is where Wallace was defeated. The Wallace Monument, found in the city of Stirling, is a patriotic must-see, a testament to how Scots still revere their national hero.

Blackness Castle, a photo by Barrie Caveman on Flickr.

• Trainspotters have plenty to do here. The Bo’ness and Kinneil Steam Railway in Bo'ness includes the largest collection of railway artifacts in Scotland, and you can ride an authentic steam train along the beautiful banks of the Firth of Forth.
• History buffs get an idea of what a castle in the Stuart Era would have looked like at Stirling Castle. From the soaring rafters of the largest great hall in Scotland (almost unchanged since the early 16th century) to the palace vaults, this is where history really does come to something like life.



Archaeology Students at the Northern Defences, a photo by Jani Helle on Flickr.

• Fascinated by ancient Rome? Then you'll want to check out the Antonine Wall. Hadrian's Wall gets all the good press, but this was in fact the wall that marked the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire. You can still explore the ditches and embankments today, but be careful to step around the lilias.

Sources:

www.visitscottishheartlands.com