The original name Stirling came from the city in central Scotland. Stirling is the youngest city in Scotland as it gained city rights in 2002 at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. Before that Stirling was declared Royal burgh, that was in the year 1130 and it remained so until 1975. However, in earlier times Stirling was the capital of Scotland and it was also important as the “Gateway to the Highlands”, with its position near the Highland Boundary Fault between the Scottish Lowlands and the Highlands. It was widely believed that whoever controlled Stirling, controlled Scotland.

At the heart of its old town, medieval Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle, is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. Before the union with England, Stirling Castle was also one of the most used of the many Scottish royal residences, very much a palace as well as a fortress. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542.