If you are looking for an authentic and historic piece of Scotland to explore and enjoy you need look no further than Bridge of Allan. Although it is not widely known as a large holiday destination, it is scenic and interesting enough to suit just about anybody looking for a good vacation spot.
Historic location with beautiful scenery
The town of Bridge of Allan, located just north of Stirling, is a lovely little place where you can lose yourself in holiday pleasures quite easily. The town itself lies along a left hand tributary of the River Forth, known as Allan Water. Rising up from these banks the town stretches along the slopes of Airthry Hill and Westerton, where you will find plenty of wooded areas and mature treas. Although this general area can become quite windy during some times of the year, Bridge of Allan is thankfully sheltered from the worst of the east winds and north winds due to the nearby Ochi Hills.
The area's history dates back as far as the Iron Age, when the Maeatae people first constructed a hillfort near the location of the modern day town of Bridge of Allan. Numerous separate clans lived in the immediate area, eventually joining together into a single loosely associated town around the 12
th or 13
th century. One of the first mentions of Bridge of Allan proper is found in a charter originally granted by King David 1, written to help resolve a dispute between the monks of Dunfermline Abbey and the nuns of North Berwick.
Over the centuries Bridge of Allan has seen a variety of historic events take place in or nearby, including the Duke of Argyll's army passing through on its way to fight in the Battle of Kilsyth and a large contingent of Jacobites blockading the bridge itself in 1745 and demanding a toll of anyone who wanted to cross.
Today the town of Bridge of Allan is best known for the annual Strathallan Games, typically scheduled for the first Sunday of each August. This is a huge celebration and collection of traditional Scottish gaming, originally founded by Major Henderson in 1852. The games are among the largest in Scotland, attracting highland dancers, pipe bands, and hundreds of athletes of all abilities who want to compete and enjoy the camaraderie of traditional Scottish competition.
Many people also enjoy exploring the lovely churches in the village of Bridge of Allan, St. Saviour's Church and Bridge of Allan Parish Church. Both are located in the heart of the village and in fact face one another at the intersection of Fountain Road and Keir Street. The church buildings are still in active use today but are certainly worth visiting because they still contain some beautiful and historic internal fittings.
