Stirlingshire

One of the most historic counties in Scotland, Stirlingshire – and specifically its attractive capital, Stirling – is the most obvious next port-of-call after you've exhausted delights of the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Not only is the region the gateway to the Highlands to the north, it's also home to historic towns like Dunblane, Callander and of course Stirling itself, where the castle and the walled old town are must-see sights. Attractive Dunblane is an important cathedral city, workaday Falkirk is home to the famous Falkirk Wheel, linking the town's two canals, while Callander, on the eastern fringe of the dramatic countryside of the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park, is a popular tourist hub, home to the Pass of Leny which is a key route into the Highlands. Other iconic sights in the region include the Bannockburn battlefield and National Wallace Monument, a free-standing tower built in the 19th century to commemorate the famous Scottish freedom fighter. You can enjoy all this from a wide array of hotels, B&Bs and all kinds of self-catering properties, from converted castles to eco-friendly cottages by the lake.