Hillwalking and Hiking

You can hike practically from the doorstep of Trinity House, following the old path at the foot of Dunblane New Golf Course through the glen eventually to the Darn Path in Bridge of Allan. This is an affluent Victorian Spa village with many cafes, restaurants and quaint shops. Overlooking Bridge of Allan is Mine Wood where a disused copper mine entrance can be seen from the hiking path. Or following paths to the west of the wood you will chance upon Bridge of Allan Golf Course. From there you can pick up another path to the back of the University of Stirling (itself in a stunning campus) and on up the hill into Hermitage Wood. This backs onto Sherriffmuir or Dumyat (pronounced "dum-eye-at") and the Ochil Hills. Of course, in a car you can go FURTHER AFIELD. You can easily get to Ben Ledi, Ben Lomond, or on into the Highlands. Or from Trinity House you could drive to Fort William via the dramatic Glen Coe in an easy two hours to then climb Britain's highest mountain - Ben Nevis, or alternatively head for the Cairngorms where skiing is possible mid-winter. Perthshire also boasts Britain's tallest trees at Dunkeld, and the WORLD's largest hedge near Blairgowrie - this hedge is at first glance like a row of fairly majestic trees!

Scotland is where GOLF originated

If you are an enthusiastic golfer, opting to stay at Trinity House in Dunblane is an excellent decision. There are several courses of renown within a comfortable car journey, as well as a very good local course. We have set aside an entire page relating to golf courses within easy reach so please click here to go to our golf page.

Scottish Lochs

Most Scottish lochs are a result of the shape of the surrounding landscape. This almost always automatically means they are stunningly beautiful because of the mountains round about. Fresh water feeds into all lochs, often as large streams or rivers, and there is another river leaving them. This flow in and out is why they are called "lochs" and not "lakes". Lakes are more like collections of water in large "basins" and don't have the same flow in and out as lochs do. A good many lochs in the Trossachs are within a half hour of Trinity House. Park your car next to one of them, open your picnic, and feel tranquility being absorbed into your very being. There is only one natural lake in the whole of Scotland, the Lake of Menteith, which is a 20 minutes drive from Trinity House. An island in the lake contains the ruins of an ancient Augustine priory founded in 1238. This is reached by small boat and, although busy in summer, has an unbelievably peaceful atmosphere. The priory has been visited by such major historic figures as Robert the Bruce in 1306, 1308, and 1310, probably for political motives, and Mary Queen of Scots in 1547 who was only four years old and had to stay there for 3 weeks for her own safety. Nick Nairn's cookery school is also near the banks of the Lake of Menteith.

Historic Sites

An abundance of historical towns and villages, castles, abbeys, cathedrals, and even burial grounds of notable historical characters are all over Scotland. On our doorstep is Dunblane Cathedral. Saint Blane established a monastery on the site of an old Roman fort (or "dun") here in about AD 600 (hence the name Dunblane). The first stone church was built on the cathedral site in about 1150, and by the 1550's the cathedral was a splendid place full of statues, paintings and stained glass windows. There were also eleven altars. The old Main Street in Dunblane is full of quaint shops. Ten minutes away by car or train is Stirling. The castle has at least as much history associated with it as Edinburgh castle has. The Wallace Monument in Causewayhead is a short bus journey from Stirling city centre, as are the ruins of nearby Cambuskenneth Abbey. This abbey was founded by King David I in 1147. Benefitting from Royal Patronage of Stirling this became one of the richest abbeys in the country. The Abbey was closely involved with the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314: Bruce's Parliament which met here in 1326 was the first to include representatives of Scotland's burghs. After the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488, King James III was murdered near Bannockburn and you can see his grave at Cambuskenneth. He is buried along with his wife, Queen Margaret of Denmark. Their tomb was erected and financed by Queen Victoria. The King Robert the Bruce monument near the actual site of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 is also a short journey from Stirling city centre. Rob Roy, famous or infamous - you choose, was born at Glengyle on the banks of Loch Katrine where a house still stands. He was buried at the churchyard in Balquhidder in 1734. You can get to Balquhidder by car from Trinity House in about 1 hour, passing through the town of Callander as you go.

Towns and Cities

Glasgow and Edinburgh are each about an hour's journey from Dunblane. You can drive or take the train directly from Dunblane railway station. Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, is the most visited part of Britain outside of London. You can see the castle, various ancient cathedrals, famous streets including The Royal Mile and Princes Street, hosts of art galleries, and at the port of Leith's Ocean Terminal you can visit the royal yacht Britannia. Shopping in Edinburgh ranges from what you'd expext right up to ultra-exclusive designer boutiques. Shop til you drop, or run out of money! That's why you should stay at Trinity House and avoid the tourist trap prices of bed and breakfast in the city. Glasgow is a very different city, but also with a rich history. Most galleries and museums in Glasgow are unbelievably educational. Most are also free entry. This has helped many families with small children to benefit from the vast cultural heritage on display. This is hardly the "tip of the iceberg" with regards to what's in Glasgow and Edinburgh. You will have to come back several times to even begin to find out just what's on offer in these amazing but different cities. Shopping in Glasgow is at least as "big" as it is in Edinburgh, but nearby Stirling is also a mecca for hardened "professional" shoppers. Using Trinity House as a base, you can also easily reach Perth, Dundee, Falkirk, Linlithgow where the palace ruins can be visited and which was Scotland's capital for a short time, and Ayrshire in the southwest where you can find the Robert Burns cottage in Alloway just outside Ayr.