Bridge of Allan

Our Story

Bridge of Allan grew from a small hamlet in the early 19th century due to the copper mining and the exploiting of the four mineral water springs. Robert Stevenson, the famous Edinburgh civil engineer was engaged to bring the water to the first bath house built in 1829. Thus began the frequent visits of Robert’s grandson, the well known writer Robert Louis Stevenson. Hundreds of visitors began to arrive in Bridge of Allan, to take the waters, enjoy the sheltered climate and the charm of the countryside. By 1835 it is estimated that 30,000 visitors per annum came to the village whose resident population numbered about 1600. In 1967 the University of Stirling opened its doors on a beautiful campus formerly the Airthrey Estate. It has over the years acquired a fine reputation in Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Business Studies and Sports Science. It houses a fine theatre and cinema – The MacRobert Centre. Today the village still retains a quiet elegance with a population of about 6000, who mainly work locally in Stirling, or commute by the network of motorways to Edinburgh (40 miles), Glasgow (35 miles) and Perth (20 miles).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.