Stirling
Stirling is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth. The origin of the city name Stirling is uncertain, but folk etymology suggests that it originates in either a Scots or Gaelic term meaning the place of battle, struggle or strife, but other sources suggest that it originates in a Brythonic name meaning “dwelling place of Melyn“.
Wallace Monument
The National Wallace Monument is a tower standing near Stirling (Scotland) and commemorates Sir William Wallace. The tower was constructed in the 19th century and was the design of architect John Thomas Rochead. The monument is a 67-metre sandstone tower in Victorian Gothic style. It is situated on the Abbey Craig, from which Wallace was said to have watched the gathering of the army of king Edward I.
It is possible to climb the 246 step spiral staircase to the viewing gallery inside the monument’s crown and open up the views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley. The Hall of heroes includes a series of busts of famous Scots.
The Storr, Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island of the Inner Hebrides.
The Storr is a rocky hill and presents a steep rocky eastern face. The area has a number of weirdly shaped rock pinnacles, the remnants of ancient landslips. One of the most famous of these is known as the Old Man of Storr.
Eilean Donan Castle
The original castle was built against the Vikings in the early 13th century and was recaptured, and then demolished, by three Royal Navy frigates in May 1719. Between 1919 and 1932 the castle was restored and in 1983 The Conchra Charitable Trust was formed by the Macrae family to care for the Castle.
The island Eilean Donan is the home of the Clan Macrae and in 2001 the island had a population of one person…
… but I missed the Higlander the third time 
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain (1.344 metres) in Great Britain and is located close to the town of Fort William.
Around Glencoe
Glen Coe lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council. It is one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated Area of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. The main settlement is the village of Glencoe.
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond (974 metres) is mountain in the Scottish Highlands and is situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. It is the most southerly and one of the most popular of all Munros.
Loch Lomond, Scotland
Loch Lomond is the largest loch/lake in Great Britain and contains many islands. It is lying on the Highland Boundary Fault, the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands and is now part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
The loch is featured in a well-known song which was first published around 1841:
- Oh, ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road,
- And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye;
- But me and my true love will never meet again
- On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
The original author is unkown, but the song has been recorded by many performers over the years.
