Stirlingshire

Stirlingshire is a historic county in central Scotland, often described as the brooch that clasps the Highlands and Lowlands together, sitting at the geographical crossroads of the country. Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's most important royal fortresses, stands on a volcanic crag dominating the surrounding plain and was central to several key battles in Scottish history, including Bannockburn in 1314 where Robert the Bruce defeated the English army. The county encompasses the flat carseland of the Forth Valley, the foothills of the Trossachs, and part of the southern Highlands including the Campsie Fells and the Trossachs. The Wallace Monument near Bridge of Allan, erected in the 19th century, commemorates Sir William Wallace and is another significant landmark of Scottish national identity.