Easter spent with Sunshine (Stirling in General)

Member Name: topsyturvy

Product:	Stirling in General
Date:	26/04/03 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sunshine, interesting attractions, great fun shopping

Disadvantages: rain at home

Last week I got up really early and it was a beautiful day with the sun rays lighting up the room I was sitting in and so I thought that maybe I should go somewhere. The only thing is it couldn't be somewhere too far away because by the time I got there I would have to think of the drive home so I got out a map of Scotland and thought of towns I had not yet visited. I looked at Falkirk and at first this was somewhere I wanted to go but then I thought of Stirling.

I went on a website looked at everything I could visit all tourist attractions I then took my sunglasses, camera and CD's for the car and went. From Edinburgh it only took around 40 mnutes to get there and I printed my map off the AA website because they have a route planner option so you can get directions to where you want to go but I changed the route a little.

When I was getting nearer to Stirling it was well sign posted and so I followed a lot of the signs but I then saw the Wallace monument standing up high above the town so I guessed I may as well head there first since it was on my list of places to visit and other attractions I planned on visiting were nearby. So I didn't follow signs to Stirling for the town centre and it was mostly countryside where I was but there was also the Mill Trail nearby I wanted to see. I didn't realise how near Stirling University was to the Wallace Monument, right accross from it which is out of the way of town.

When I got to the car park of the Wallace Monument I saw it was very busy and I saw a space but deicded to drive around a little the car park was small but then I got a space quickly. When I got there I saw some tourists parking and they hit the back of somone's car really badly leaving a huge dent in the back and then they went away, I couldn't believe it so I decded to make my journey quick I would hate to come back and find my car had been hit by someone who couldn't park right.

The weather w
as very hot and I went inside to the shop and information to ask about what part was free since I had phoned earlier. They told me it was to see the monument at the top so if you want to visit where comfortable shoes it's a long way up this spiraling road but there is an alternative route, take the bus. I never found out if it was free or not but I think it was for those who had paid to go inside the monument at the top once you get there.

It seemed like forever but finally I saw the monument and there are stairs halfway up the route. Once there it was a beautiful view of Stirling and I had to take some pictures, some people were sunbathing and others resting. When there you could go inside the moument and even higher but I had seen enough by this point, I took pictures of the monument and then walked back down, I got into my car and headed off to the Mill Trail.

It's quite a nice drive, lots of scenery and tea rooms that I had no time to visit but would next time. When I got to the mill trail I parked outside it's in a main street if thatis even what you would call it in a small village and then I walked inside. This was at first very small and it was about 4 miles between the attractions but it was another free attraction which I was looking for, who says you need money to enjoy the tourist attractions.

On the right of the Mill Trail there is a shop of woollen items on sale but I didn't buy and on the left is the museum, well information. There is examples of people standing there, statues and then there are the machines that weaved the wool to make clothes back then, they have changed. There is lots to read on the walls and even though it is small, it's enough. There is a small cinema inside the dome in the middle. There are comfortable seats and a screen which is all very nice and when the film finishes if you have missed any then you press the red button and begin the presentation again. It was busy at first when
I went in but then everyone left.

There are some lovely things to buy here I got lots of nice fod made in Stirling and there were lots of lvoely Thistly souvenirs and soft toys but I didn't want to get carried away with the merchandise so I quickly left after purchasing what I needed. After this I then decided to follow on the signs for the Designer Outlet.

This was fantastic at Tillicoultry I had always heard it advertised on the radio and television and it was nice to finally get to visit it. There were lots of names including the Nike outlet which I visited and they had the trainers I wanted but I didn't have enough which made me get really annoyed so I left. I then saw shops like Pilot and Playtex and then my heaven Thorntons. I love Thorntons and I had an outlet at Freeport another outlet near Edinburgh but it closed so I was happy to find another I can visit regularly now. I obviously made sure I had enough money for a box of chocoaltes which I have already finished.

After this it was getting very late and there were some shops I wanted to visit in the centre before I left so I rushed there and didn't know where to go so being a Sunday I parked anywhere and went. I saw the shop I wanted to buy from so i ran in because the shutters were going down, it was 5pm. I made it in but I have never had to find clothes I wanted so quickly in my life. I took the right sized and in the middle of the shop had to try clothes on over my clothes I felt so undignified. When I got home they all fit perfectly so for a 3 minute shopping spree it was a success!

I love buying new clothes and they are fantastic but enough about that. The town centre is great lots of hotels and although it's small sometimes this gives a icr atmosphere a lot of good shops in this small place which again I could vsit maybe when they are actually open another time. I decided since everything was closed I should go home, I took my bags and everything el
se I had bought and follow he signs for the way home.

It didn't take too long and when I got back toEdinburgh it was no surprise that it had been miserable and it was raining so it was nice for once to spend Easter with the sunshine. It has never been sunny on Easter for me for ages so it was a great day out and I will go back.

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