Stirling Old Bridge Scotland

Stirling Old Bridge, Scotland

Stirling Old Bridge

Stirling Old Bridge in Stirling not far from Stirling Castle is the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 where William Wallace defeated a much larger English army.

The present medieval bridge across the River Forth lies a few 100 meters from the site of the wooden bridge where the famous battle took place.

The bridge is closed to vehicular traffic except for bicycles.

Stirling Old Bridge, Stirling, Scotland. — Stirling Old Bridge in Stirling, Scotland is a medieval stone, arched bridge

History

The wooden structure where the famous battle took place was replaced by the present stone bridge in the early 16th century.

In 1745, one of the arches was destroyed by the English to hinder the advance of the Jacobite army. It was replaced in 1749.

Tolls were once levied on goods carried across the bridge and at each end arched gates once stood.

The bridge is 80 meters in length and has four semicircular arches. These are held up by three piers.

The nearby road bridge, designed by Scottish civil engineer Robert Stevenson (1772-1850), opened in 1833 and the stone bridge then closed to wheeled traffic, only pedestrians and cyclists are now permitted to cross.

Steven designed numerous lighthouses and bridges throughout Scotland. These include The Bell Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Angus, which is the world's oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse.

The bridge is 80 meters in length and has four semicircular arches. — The bridge is 80 meters in length and has four semicircular arches

Access

Stirling Old Bridge
River Forth, Stirling FK9

Stirling is 62 km northeast of the Scottish capital, Edinburgh driving on the M9.

Rail

Stirling Station has trains to Edinburgh Waverley Station in Edinburgh (40 minutes), Dunblane, Aberdeen, Inverness Station in Inverness and Dundee.

Trains from Queen Street Station in Glasgow to Stirling take around 40-50 minutes depending on the service.

There are also connections to King's Cross Station in London.

Bus

Stirling Bus Station is close to the railway station. There are bus departures for Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.

It's worth renting a car if you are touring this part of Scotland along with the remote areas of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Accommodation

Stirling is blessed with accommodation to suit all budgets from four-star hotels to backpacker lodgings and youth hostels.

At the top end, some recommendations include the four-star Stirling Highland Hotel, the three-star Golden Lion Hotel or the four-star Hotel Colessio housed in an original Victorian building.

More budget options include Stirling Youth Hostel or the Holiday Inn Express Stirling.

See a listing of hotels in Stirling