Historic Scotland, shared with a small dram of whisky!
Bracklinn Falls Bridge
Stirling Castle
Loch Katrine
Doune Castle
Edinburgh
Callander is the perfect base for you to explore Scotland. Ideally located in the heart of Scotland with easy access to many of the historic sites. There are many Whisky Distilleries and Breweries nearby
Scotlands Most Famous Export
Sample some of the finest whisky with Distilleries right on your doorstep. Take a tour on:
or try the local brewery at Bridge of Allan or nip along to the well stocked Real Ale shop at The Lade Inn just outside Callander.
http://www.scottishrealales.com
or if Gin is more your thing take a tour of the local Callander Gin Distilliery
The Spirit of Callander is a great place to sample some of the finest local spirits and can be found on the High Street. You can arrange private tasting by calling 01877 331164
Stirling
Stirling was the battlefield of a young nation. Major battles during the wars of Scottish Independence took place at the Stirling Bridge and at the nearby village of Bannockburn involving William Wallace and Robert the Bruce respectively.
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture, Stirling Castle commands the countryside for many miles around.
It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314.
Visit the Stirling Castle website www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk to plan your visit
The Old Town is like a walk through history - the Castle and the Church of the Holy Rude, mansions, town walls, graveyards and ghosts.
The National Wallace Monument, the Church of the Holy Rude – all icons of Scotland’s royal and often tempestuous past. The city has many more unexpected sites from a jail to a working brewery. The museums and gallery experience spans archaeology to contemporary Scottish art.
Bannockburn
The historic fight for Scotland. The Battle of Bannockburn on 24 June 1314 was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence and remains one of the most iconic cornerstones in the history of Scotland. The new Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre harnesses 3D technology to bring Scottish history to life.
Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with medieval warriors and armoured knights while learning about the tactics of two opposing kings in a truly immersive experience.
Witness the sights and sounds of medieval battle first-hand including ancient battle strategies, weapons and armour. Battle of Bannockburn
Loch Katrine and Balquhidder
The scenic charm and beauty of the area became popular due to Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake. The poem refers to a lady being found on the stunning Loch Katrine which lies 10 miles from Callander.
The poet followed up this with his 1817 novel Rob Roy, romanticising an outlaw cattle thief who was born by the Loch and buried at nearby Balquhidder. http://www.lochkatrine.com/
Doune Castle
Doune Castle was built around 1400 by Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, Earl of Menteith and Fife. Younger brother of the weak and feeble Robert III, he was the effective ruler of the kingdom from 1388 until his death in 1420. He is known to history as ‘Scotland’s uncrowned king’, and his seat at Doune was virtually a royal castle.
Only after Albany’s death did Doune Castle finally gain the status its builder had desired – it became a kingly residence. It never rivalled the great royal castles at Stirling and Edinburgh. Rather, it was used as a royal retreat from the burdens of state, a pleasant summer residence where the royal family could relax and hunt in the nearby forests in the Trossachs. Only when James VI left for London in 1603, to become James I of England also, did Doune’s role as royal retreat effectively come to an end. Less than 10 minutes from Callander
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee
Each city has so much to offer. They are all less than a 1 hour by car from Callander.