History

Stirling plays a major part in Scottish history as the place where William Wallace turned back the English during the war for Scottish independence at the battle of Stirling bridge. The area pays tribute to the Scottish hero with the Wallace Monument (not a walk for the faint hearted but a free courtesy bus takes you up the hill!), Stirling Castle has also been the feature of a few sieges in its time and stands atop a rocky outcrop as the oldest building in the city.

The Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland, UK by Finlay McWalter

Attractions

Along with the monument and castle Stirling offers some other attractions locally, the Blair Drummond Safari park is just outside the city and is a great day out for the whole family, remember to take your barbecue food for the picnic area for after the drive through the big cat compound and boat ride round the chimpanzee island. For the older visitors there are whisky distillery local to the area with Deanston Distillery visitor centre recently opened making an excellent way to spend a few hours. A short drive from Stirling gives you the wide open countryside and some amazing loch side walks or the boat rides along Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond.

A little further afield you can visit Edinburgh which is only an hours drive or train journey away. Home to the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh Tattoo during August Edinburgh can be a hectic place to be and a lot different to the sedate pace of a walk around the lochs! For those looking for something different Edinburgh is currently the only zoo in Great Britain to hold giant pandas (a booking in advance is recommended if you want to see them.)

Stirling Castle, Scotland, UK by Finlay McWalter

Shopping

The Thistle Centre in Stirling offers all the usual high street shops from major towns but if you step outside there are plenty of independent stores to have a look around.

Staying in Stirling

There are some great hotels in Stirling, from the budget to luxury hotel, from b&b to major chains there is something for everyone.

So if you visit Scotland and want to stay out side the major cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow take a trip to Stirling and enjoy the whole of central Scotland.

Looking for things to do elsewhere in the world? Visit the iflightsearch blog for some great ideas at some different destinations.

The post Things to do in Stirling, Scotland | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Taking a road trip is one of the best ways to explore Europe, as there are so many stunning vistas which can be viewed by car as you make your way through this diverse landscape. The size and proximity of the different nations of Europe means that you can be in a totally different country in a matter of hours. From the rugged coastline of Scotland to the snowy mountains of Germany to the sun soaked villages of Italy, here are a few of the best road trips to enjoy throughout Europe.

Scotland’s Western Highlands

Start from the historic city of Edinburgh and take a 250 mile drive through winding roads and green countryside to the Isle of Skye. There are plenty of great historical sites to stop at on this scenic road trip, such as Linlithgow Place, Eilean Donan Castle, Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument and Fort William’s West Highland Museum. The scenery here is breathtakingly beautiful, from rolling hills to tranquil Lochs to rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops.

If you get hungry along the way you can stop and enjoy some fresh seafood along the coast, such as oysters, scallops and mussels. Keep your eyes peeled because out the window you could spot seals, otters, foxes, deer, and birds.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland, UK by the Starling 2011

The Alpine Road, Germany

This route starts at the island town of Lindau located on Lake Constance and will take you 300 miles along the edge of the Bavarian Alps. The route twists and turns through picturesque small towns and villages, green alpine meadows, ancient forests, snowy mountain peaks, and fairy-tale castles giving you a fantastic taste of classic European scenery.

Lindau harbor, Lake Constance, Germany by Cody

The Amalfi Coast Road, Italy

This is a stunning drive through one of the most beautiful areas of Europe. Mountains overlook the clear glistening blue sea and stone churches are perched on the hills above villages of brightly coloured houses. The road winds slowly around the coast and takes you through hidden coves and sun soaked lemon groves. Anywhere you stop you will be treated to rich and flavorful Mediterranean food and friendly smiles from the locals, as well as soft sandy beaches. Be sure to take it slow, as you will want to stop multiple times to take the camera out and capture the amazing view.

Amalfi coast, Italy by Jenny

The Transfagarasan Mountain Road, Romania

This road in the mountains of Romania is thought to be one of the most spectacular roads in the world. It is 56 miles long and runs through the Fagaras Mountains which are part of the Transylvanian Alps. Host Jeremy Clarkson of the television show Top Gear claims that the Transfagarasan is the best road in the world.

This windy mountain road is filled with hairpin turns and challenging twists, so the maximum speed is 25 miles per hour. The road is only open from June to October because in the winter it is blocked by snow. On the way, you can even stop at the castle of Vlad III the Impaler, whom Bram Stoker based the character of Dracula on. You can also see Balea Lake, which is a glacier lake with cold, clear, icy water surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks.

The Transfagarasan Mountain Road, Romania by Cristian Bortes

These are just a few of the most amazing road trips throughout Europe, but there are many more. Next time you have a weekend or a few days to get away, grab the steering wheel, put some music on the stereo and get out there on the open road!

Before you head out on the open road and enjoy one of these amazing European road trips, be sure to get some cheap car insurance so that you are protected no matter what happens along the way.

The post Ready for Adventure: The Best Road Trips in Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.