20 Attractions to Explore Near Plean Country Park

Tappoch Broch, better known as Torwood Broch, is an iron-age broch located in a remote spot in dense woodland near Falkirk, Scotland. Small-scale excavations have taken place near the site sporadically since. Recently, a conservation project run by Archaeology Scotland and grant aided by Forestry Commission Scotland cleared the site of scrub vegetation. The broch was then surveyed by laser scanning.

Torwood Castle is a ruined 16th-century L-plan castle near the village of Torwood, in the Falkirk Council area of central Scotland. It was designated as a Category A listed building in 1979. The Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland originally listed its level of risk as low, but raised that level to moderate in mid-2019 after seeing signs of continued neglect. The roofless castle is three storeys tall and comprises a vaulted ground floor, a first floor and an attic. The short wing housed the

Torwood Blue Pool is a small, manmade and mysterious blue pool that has been in existence for about 100 years. Located near Denny, Scotland, the pool is thought to be built as an air shaft for a nearby mine, but the origins are still unconfirmed.

The Great Trossachs Path, one of Scotland’s great trails, is a 30-mile long route running between Callander in the east to Inversnaid and Loch Lomond in the west, and also passing through Brig o’ Turk, the Loch Katrine area and Stronachlachar. The path connects the Rob Roy Way with the West Highland Way and also links to the Three Lochs Way, so long-distance walkers will now be able to undertake an extraordinary journey across the centre of Scotland.

The visitor centre expertly harnesses fully-immersive 3D technology to bring this thrilling chapter of Scotland’s story to life. Come and experience medieval combat like never before and discover more about this crucial event in Scottish history. Located near the historic city of Stirling and in the vicinity of the battleground. Outside, wander across the parkland and admire the restored commemorative monuments, including the iconic statue of Robert the Bruce.

An elaborate and beautiful summer house built in the shape of a pineapple in the eighteenth-century by Lord Dunmore. The Pineapple presides over an immense walled garden, which was open to visitors, while at the back is a private garden for those staying.

Carron Dam is a partially drained reservoir with wetland, rich fen and deciduous woodland. Specialised plants such as gypsywort, remote sedge and water-plantain thrive in the wetlands, which is one of the largest in the area. Water voles and water rails may also be glimpsed along the banks.

Alloa Inch is an island in the tidal reaches of the River Forth near Alloa, just before the river opens out into the Firth of Forth. There is a derelict farmhouse on the island, as the land was farmed in the past. Due to subsidence caused by nearby coal mining, flood defences were breached. The land now consists of reed beds and salt marshes. The Scottish Wildlife Trust has managed the island as a reserve since 1996. The smaller islet of Tullibody Inch lies just upstream.

Cambus Pools is a wetland reserve with reedbeds, grassland and open water attracting waders, warblers and wildfowl. The pools are on riverside flats and are a prime example of space for nature squeezed in between commerce and industry. This makes it particularly special for local wildlife-lovers and Trust members.

The Kings Park is one of Stirling's best used recreation areas, historically the park was used as the hunting ground for the Royal Court at Stirling. All the paths within the park are a sealed surface and suitable for all users. A large area of the park is a golf course, please keep to the paths. Various trees, wildflowers and wildlife can be seen along the way. Kings Park is within easy walking distance of many points of interest including The Smith Art Gallery, Kings Knot, Black Boy fountain

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Tamfourhill, Falkirk, in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. It reconnects the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. It opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Link project. It was the world's first and only rotating boat lift.

The Engine Shed is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, based in Stirling, open to the public for fun, free family events and to conservation professionals. It serves as a central hub for the general public and building & conservation professionals. It enables us to encourage understanding of traditional building materials and skills among the public and professionals and raise standards in conservation for traditional buildings.

Cambuskenneth Abbey is one of Scotland's most important abbeys and is home to a fine collection of medieval grave slabs and architectural fragments. The abbey today is largely reduced to its foundations, however its bell tower remains. The neighbouring modern village of Cambuskenneth is named after it.

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, was founded in 1874 with the bequest and collection of the artist Thomas Stuart Smith on land provided by the burgh of Stirling, still operates under the modified trust deed of its founder. Today, it functions as a gallery, museum and cultural centre for the Stirling area. It is the repository for the historical artefacts and paintings of Stirlingshire, at the same time offering exhibition opportunities for contemporary artists. Over twenty community grou

Stirling Old Town Jail was built in 1847 when the old Tolbooth Jail became too overcrowded and was rated as the worst prison in Britain. Although living conditions undoubtedly improved with the new jail, the strict regime of solitude, labour, coarse food and discomfort would still have been a deterrent. The building was still in use as a military prison until 1935.

Seabegs Wood was the site of a Roman fortlet on the Antonine Wall in Scotland. At Seabegs, the outline of Antonine's Wall, has lasted. Archaeologists from previous generations recorded this and stated that the ditch was deep and waterlogged. There is an underpass under thForth and Clyde Canal nearby known locally as the Pend.

One of Scotland’s most important medieval churches, dating from 1456. The church was founded in 1129 during the reign of David I, but the earliest part of the present church dates from the 15th century. As such it is the second oldest building in Stirling after Stirling Castle, parts of which date from the later 14th century. The chancel and tower were added in the 16th century.

Argyll's Lodging is the most complete surviving example of a seventeenth century town house in Scotland. It can be found in the upper part of Stirling, just below Stirling Castle's Esplanade. The house sits behind a screen wall and comprises a collection of buildings built in two phases and in three ranges around an enclosed courtyard.

Watling Lodge is a long-buried Roman fortlet on the Antonine Wall, a fortification of turf and wood built over 1,800 years ago to define the limits of the Roman empire. It ran across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, and was protected by 16 forts with small fortlets between them. Around 7,000 soldiers were stationed on the Antonine Wall from countries as far away as modern Syria, Spain and Algeria.

Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was, until the 1890s, the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the r