Stirling and The Wallace Monument

Last night Kirsty and I went to Edinburgh airport to pick up sister Sue, who was also staying for a few days (and was the reason we were visiting again). Today, while David went on a photography trip to Glasgow, we had a walk around the centre of Stirling and the visited the Wallace Monument.

Last time we visited Stirling Castle (see here), so today we had a wander around the rest of the centre of Stirling. Here are a few photos.

We went to the local patisserie for some pastries for breakfast. They were huge!

But Sue just had toast.

We parked a The Thistles shopping centre and walk up into the city.

The old school.

The sign at the old town jail said it was accepting new inmates, but we declined the invitation.

I liked the Boys Club.

The Holy Rude Church was charging to go in, so we didn't, but we did visit Cowane's Hospital, which is free. It has been recently restored.

Before going in I had a walk through the Old Town Cemetery. Right by the castle, it has lovely views.

Read about the Key Stones and Monuments, including this martyrs monument here.

"The three figures represent an angel keeping watch over two young girls, one of whom is reading the Bible to the other. The reader is Margaret Wilson, the listener is her younger sister Agnes. Such is the logic of legend that they are known locally as the ‘Mary Martyrs’.

The two girls belonged to Wigtonshire, the daughters of Gilbert Wilson, a committed Episcopalian. Despite this, the sisters were followers of the Covenanters, an extreme Presbyterian group strongly opposed to the Anglican reforms of Charles II. Margaret and Agnes, aged 18 and 13 respectively, were arrested for their beliefs and along with Margaret McLauchlan, an elderly neighbour, tried for and found guilty of high treason. All three were sentenced to death by drowning. Agnes’s father was able to buy her freedom but despite a temporary reprieve the others were led to a point below high water mark on the treacherous Solway Firth, tied to stakes, and left to drown in the incoming tide. Margaret McLauchlan, by then in her late 60s, had no resistance to the powerful current and soon succumbed to its force. Margaret Wilson was offered her freedom, but refused to relinquish her convictions and died for her faith on May 11th 1685."

Inside the restored Hospital.

...and outside.

The star pyramid. 

We found an ice-cream van just outside the castle....

...and this lady busker...

...before returning around the outside of the city walls.

For lunch we visited The Coffee Bothy.

From here we had a view of our next destination on the way back to Bridge of Allan....

The Wallace Monument.

We walked up the path up the hill.

There is a memorial here to the early aviation pioneers - the Barnwell borthers.

There are great views at the top of the hill. We didn't go up the 220ft tall monument, which has 246 steps up to the observation platform.

A character giving a history talk under the tower.

We were over there in The Trossachs yeaterday.

Looking down on Bridge of Allan we could see the showground ready for the Highland Games tomorrow. We are looking forward to that.

The tower.

We could just make out Ben Lomond.

Then it was back to Kirsty and David's for tea before jazz night (and a couple of beers) at the brewhouse.

Thanks-you all for a great day.

You can see more of my photos here on Flickr.