20 Best Green Spaces and Parks Near Stirling

Are you looking for somewhere to stretch your legs, or to get a bit of fresh air? This posts lists the best green spaces and parks near Stirling that you can visit.

All of the locations on this list are within half an hour drive from the city of Stirling. 

Colourful country parks, popular walking trails, green spaces and much more are listed below.

Locations are in Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Alloa and Falkirk. There are so many options for a refreshing walk.

Plean Country Park

Plean Country Park has over 70 hectares of woodland, wilderness and parkland.

It is a quiet park with some good information points and nice walking trails for walking, cycling and horse riding. Also, there is a nice paddock. 

There is an interesting history behind this park. The last pit in Plean closed in 1963.

British Coal handed over the derelict Plean House and 190 aces of land to Stirling Council in the mid 1980’s. By the time work started to convert the park in 1987, the paths were completely overgrown.

Now this has been converted into parkland which is a haven for wildlife. Plean House is now an abandoned house which are in an unsafe state of ruin.

It stands as a reminder of the park’s history. A sculpture stands in the old walled garden as a tribute to the local miners who lost their lives in a pit explosion in 1922.

In the park, you might come across trenches which were used for war practice. There is a large free car park where you can also find toilet facilities.

Plean Country Park is six miles south from the centre of Stirling. It is less than a fifteen-minute car ride. 

Gartmorn Dam Country Park

This is a 370-acre country park and nature reserve which lies in the heart of Clackmannanshire. Many signs of the rich mining history and heritage from this area is still viewable.

Sir John Erskine, the 6th Earl of Mar established the 170 acre reservoir in 1713 to power the pumps which drained his Sauchie mines. His project played a massive role in the development of Alloa’s industrial history. 

There are various walks with clear paths available around the Gartmorn Dam. You can see numerous swans, coots, geese and ducks on the reservoir.

Also, you can enjoy stunning views out towards the Ochil Hills. Once you have finished exploring enjoy a refreshing hot drink at the Dam Good Coffee in the old visitor centre.

Car parking is free and there is a visitor centre.

Gartmorn Dam Country Park is located near Alloa. The car journey from Stirling is twenty minutes. 

Muiravonside Country Park

Muiravonside Country Park is Falkirk’s only country park. There are 170 acres of parkland and woodland.

Also, there is a mini demonstration farm, a sculpture trail and a play area.

To see the relics of the bygone industry and farming, visitors can follow the River Avon Heritage Trail around the park.

The John Muir Way long-distance walking trail runs nearby and can be accessed from the park. Make sure to view the impressive Avon Aqueduct. 

Farm steading buildings have been restored and are home to a few smaller animals including rabbits, guinea pigs and exotic birds. Near the car park is the recently added Sculpture and Poetry Trail.

Car parking in the main car park costs £1, while car parking in the woodland car park is free.

Muiravonside Country Park is located in Whitecross near Falkirk. This is a half an hour car journey from Stirling. 

Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve

Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve is a large nature reserve. One of the last remaining intact bogs in the United Kingdom.

A wild and ancient landscape that has been left unchanged and well-preserved for thousands of years. The accessible boardwalk is a good size but covers a small portion.

Get up close to see unusual plants and colourful wildlife. Look out for Scotland’s only native snake – adders.

Watch dragonflies and damselflies or see large butterflies by the numerous pools, zipping about. 

Also, there is a lovely tower giving you great views over the largest lowland bog in Europe. Facts and stories are well presented on the information boards.

The nature reserve is located near Thornhill, a twenty-minute drive from Stirling.

Bonnyfield Nature Reserve

Bonnyfield Nature Reserve is located on the former Bonnyfield sand and gravel quarry just north of Bonny Water and to the west of Duncan Stewart Park.

This large area offers walking paths, and is a large natural habitat to a wide variety of wildlife and nature. In addition, visitors can enjoy wildflower meadows, cycle paths, woodland, pond and lochs.

The John Muir Way is a short walk away. There is a 2.5 kilometre circular path which takes you around the site.

Also, there are many other shorter routes available. There is a large colourful community mural.

Bonnyfield Nature Reserve is a twenty-minute drive south of Stirling. The nature reserve is located in Bonnybridge. 

Darnley park 

A fantastic little park at the old top of the town region of Stirling. The park offers good views across the city of Stirling and the Ochil Hills.

Despite it being located in a rather urban setting you will be surprised at how green and refreshing this play park actually is.

Darnley is located just a five-minute walk from both Stirling Castle and the city centre. 

Kings Park 

Kings Park was part of the private hunting grounds for the Royal Courts of Stirling Castle. 

There is a path network which follows the park boundary. On the path you can witness great views of Stirling Castle, the city skyline and views of the Ochil Hills, Hillfoots, Cambusbarron and Gilles Hill.

Also, visitors can enjoy the fine Victorian houses of the Kings Park area. Along the way there are various trees, wildflowers and wildlife to be seen. 

The park has a play area, golf course, tennis courts and skate parks. Kings Park is within easy walking distance of many points of interest including the Smiths Art Gallery, Kings Knot, Black Boy Fountain and the historic streets of Stirling leading to the castle. 

The Pavilion in the King Park in Stirling is a lovely place to go for breakfast, lunch or just coffee. The cakes and tray bakes on sale are superb.

More parks in Stirling:

Darn Walk, Bridge of Allan

A beautiful linear walk links the Bridge of Allan to Dunblane. For most of the route, the path is close to River Allan and follows the line of an ancient path known as the Darn Road.

The Darn Road dates back to Roman times. 

The walk begins at Blairforkie Drive and soon leads to a path at River Allan. Further along the river is an obvious cave on the right.

The cave is said to be an inspiration for Den Gunn’s Cave in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island. On a clear day, Ben Ledi, Stuc a’Chroin and Ben Vorlich make a magnificent background. 

The same route can be followed on the way back. It takes three hours to walk there and back. Alternatively, if you have had enough, you can get a bus or train to take you back to the starting point. 

Green Spaces in Dunblane

Dunblane Riverside Path, Dunblane

Dublane to Ashfield Riverside Walk is a pretty and scenic walk along the banks of Allan Water.

The route links Dunblane, with its attractive cathedral and interesting main street, with the pretty village of Ashfield. Ashfield is a planned mill village. 

You can park in the Millrow Car Park just next to the cathedral adjacent to the riverside path. Along the route, you will pass many bridges including a railway bridge and the Faery Bridge.

Millrow car park is a fifteen-minute drive north of the centre of Stirling.

Laighills Public Park, Dunblane

Laighills Park is a large park which is easily accessible from the centre of Dunblane and the cathedral.

The park has recently upgraded its play park and skate park. Also, you might see people playing some sports o one of the full-sized grass football pitches. 

A variety of paths over the Laigh Hills makes the area easier to explore. You can witness a great variety of plants and animals.

Most of the areas are fairly open. However, some parts are covered with trees such as oak, ash, birch, alder, willow, rowan, hazel and elder.

The Scouring Burn runs through the park and leads into the Allan Water. Laighills Public Park is a twenty minute drive from the centre of Stirling.

Allan Water/Laighills Loop

A two miles circular trail which takes you past riverside gardens, and old mills, across Faery Bridge into Laighills Park.

Then the route moves onto the medieval cathedral, Victorian High Street and the old bridge. 

Ochlochy Park, Dunblane

Ochlochy, translates from Scottish Gaelic as “The little loch in the field”. Once, the land was common land for cattle grazing.

In 1942, the land was gifted to the people of Dunblane as a play area. Ochlochy Park has a range of birds nesting on the pond including mallards, tufted ducks, moorhen, and swans. 

Water from the Minnie Burn supplied town water and steam trains. The pond was built by Victorian Engineers as a water reservoir for the railway.

The pond was previously a curling pond. The park is a fifteen minute drive north of the centre of Stirling.

Holmehill and Ochlochy Park Loop

A two-mile circular route takes through an area called Holmehill and to Ochlochy Park.

More specifically the route crosses the ancient bridge, the cathedral and the Dun of Dunblane. 

Woodhill Wood Park, Alva

A forest located on the steep south-facing slopes of the Ochil Hills. This area is home to a variety of wildlife.

There is a circular path which winds up through the wood and is steep in some places. From high up, there are magnificent views across the Firth of Forth. 

To the west, there is a short path which leads you to a viewing platform overlooking the Silver Burn and one of the old silver mines.

The path links up with the path that leads through Alva Glen. From the centre of Stirling, Woodhill Wood Park is a twenty-minute drive east. 

Parks in Falkirk

The Helix and the Kelpies, Falkirk

The Helix was created as a space for the communities in the Falkirk area. The huge Kelpies is a clever piece of engineering to create a magnificent tribute to such gorgeous creatures.

The are amazing to see, really wild and majestic. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, and ploughs. 

The Helix is linked to Falkirk’s award winning path network, that stretches over 500 kilometres. There is a lots to do in this park from cycle paths, play park, parklands, woodlands, a visitor centre, Kelpie Tours and seasonal events.

There are lots of free parking. The Helix is a half an hour drive from the centre of Stirling and is located between Falkirk and Grangemouth. 

Zetland Park, Grangemouth

Zetland Park was gifted by the Earl of Zetland to the people of Grangemouth in 1880.

There is a fountain which was gifted to the community in 1882. Today, the park is the main green space for the busy industrial town of Grangemouth. 

Also, the Grange Burn flows alongside the park. There is a naturalised pond, a new cycle track and tennis courts.

A war memorial designed by Sir John Burnet in 1923 sits in park. Zetland Park is a twenty five minute drive from the centre of Stirling.

Dollar Park, Falkirk

Within the park’s boundaries, there is a large Victorian mansion. The grand house has a long driveway, two Chinese lion sculptures, balconies and a fine estate of trees, shrubs and flower beds.

The walled garden is nice and has a lovely water feature. The house and the rest of the park were gifted to the town by Robert Dollar, a shipping magnate and philanthropist.

Also, the park has a café called Arnotdale House and Café. Dollar Park is a half an hour’s drive from the centre of Stirling.

Callendar Park

One of the best parks in Falkirk. Callendar Park is 170 acres big and the grand 14th century, French chateau-styled house, Callendar House is situated in the park.

The park has a long-standing history which dates all the way back to 142AD. A section of the Roman Antonine Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the park. Since the 12th century, the estate has gradually developed. 

Callendar House is complete with a Georgian kitchen and visitor tea room. In the house, there is a permanent display covering the history of the house from the 11th to 19th centuries.

Also, visitors can learn about the Antonine Wall, Rome’s Northern Frontier and how the local area was transformed during the first century of the industrial era. 

Callendar House was used as a filming location for the hugely popular TV show, Outlander. The woodlands and gardens host a number of interesting historical features including an Arboretum, Ornamental Gardens and a family Mausoleum. 

There is a cafe on-site and a small kiosk that sells cooked food.

Car parking is free. Callendar Park is half an hour’s drive from the centre of Stirling.

Other parks in Falkirk:

Final Note

This post lists many ideas for a short walk or place to go to relax near Stirling. The list contains many destinations in Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane and Falkirk.

Parks, country parks, nature reserves and short walking trails are all good options around Stirling where you can stretch your legs or get some fresh air.