Bridge of Allan. A shopping, eating and walking day out in central Scotland.

Bridge of Allan is one of Stirling's hidden gems. This historic Spa Town is highly recommended as a place to visit on any trip to this area, and is less than 3 miles from Stirling City Centre.

Bridge of Allan is a charming little village by the Allan Water. It is home to Stirling University and is overlooked by the National Wallace Monument, a towering tribute to Scotland’s, Sir William Wallace, and within sight of Stirling’s cliff-top castle. The village with its fine Victorian buildings and unique shops has a long standing reputation as a popular holiday destination and has much to offer visitors. Come and discover Bridge of Allan.

Bridge of Allan Mineral Water, 1820.

Bridge of Allan mineral water ingredients from 1820

Mineral Water ingredients listed on rear.

Above images represent the only known remaining bottle of Bridge of Allan Mineral water. During the Victoria era, people would travel from many areas to Bridge of Allan to "take the waters".

This last remaining bottle can be viewed at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery on Dumbarton Road in Stirling. Today visitors to Bridge of Allan can still enjoy a nice lunch or dinner in the still recogniseable pump house seen on the bottle. It's currently a family-run Italian restaurant called Vecchia Bologna, run by Claudio Menichetti and his family.

This Victorian village is situated less than three miles from the centre of Stirling. On the Ochil Hills, above the town, copper was mined as early as the 16th century and at intervals thereafter right up to 1807. The main audit (entrance shaft) of the mine can still be seen today in the woodlands - the backdrop of the village, used by Drumbrae riding centre.

There are a range of short walks, shops and cafes, restaurants and bars as well as a wide range of Victorian architecture built when the village developed into a spa town during the Victorian era. Some of the businesses are featured on www.bridgeofallan.com

A charming riverside pathway called the Darn Walk, is thought to have been in use since Roman Times. This three mile walk to Dunblane follows the river and brings you out at Dunblane Golf Course. It is strongly associated with Robert Louis Stevenson, who included the route as part of his adventure novel Kidnapped. A small cave on route by the river bank is also linked with him and, some say, was the origin of Ben Gunn’s cave in Treasure Island.

Bridge of Allan has a railway station and is easily reached by train, bus or car from Stirling. There is also a map in the centre displaying the layout of the town and the walks.

Bridge of Allan has an active business group called the Bridge of Allan Merchants Association. This volunteer group organises various events and tasks itself to carry out the marketing and promotion of Bridge of Allan as a shopping and eating destination for visitors from Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad.

For more information about Bridge of Allan, visit the official Facebook page, featuring the local businesses or visit www.bridgeofallan.com

In 2006 some beautiful Bridge of Allan gardens featured on the Beechgrove Garden, BBC1.

Drumbrae Riding Centre is located in upper Bridge of Allan, with outstanding panoramic views of the area.

The pictureque countryside on the farm is ideal for trekking and hacking with magnificent panoramic scenery. There is also an indoor tuition arena where riders can improve their skills in a safe environment.

The above is one of the series of Bridge of Allan historical memorial plaques installed in 2000 thanks to part funding from the National Lottery. When visiting the village, look out for the iconic image of the Beatles to commemorate their visit to Bridge of Allan before hitting the big time. Local legend suggests they were booed off stage by a bunch of young farmers!