Stirling Nottingham Train

The Scottish city of Stirling is the largest city on central Scotland and is build around the fortress of Stirling Castle. The castle sits on top of Castle Hill and is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. Several Scottish monarchs have been crowned at Stirling Castle including Mary Queen of Scots in 1542. The castle is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is now a popular visitor attraction which is managed by Historic Scotland.

The Top of the Town is made up of Broad Street, Castle Wynd, Ballengeich Pass, Lower Castle Hill Road, Baker Street and St Mary's Wynd which all lead up to the castle. This area is popular with visitors who also visit the Old Town Jail, Mar's Wark (a ruined building dating back to the 16th century), Argyll's Loding and the castle itself. Ballengeich Pass leads to the graveyard at Ballengeich and the Castle Wynd winds past the old graveyard. Craft shops and tourist-focused shops are evident on the way up and once at the top, panoramic views are available across Stirling and beyond.

Stirling is a major centre of sports training and education in Scotland. The headquarters of the Scottish Institute of Sport is a purpose-built facility on the campus of Stirling University, which opened in 2002. Also at the university is the Scottish National Swimming Academy, as well as the Gannochy National Tennis centre, which is seen as a tennis centre of excellence.

Located in the county of Nottinghamshire, the city of Nottingham is home to some of the best shopping in the United Kingdom and has a fantastic cultural calendar and excellent pubs, bars and restaurants. The relatively small city centre, with its pedestrianised streets and tram system make it easy to get around. There are many attractions in and around the city and three worth mentioning are The Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham Castle and City of Caves. The award winning Galleries of Justice Museum offers an insight into crime, punishment and British justice. The museum is housed in a former 18th century prison and contains the largest collection of police memorabilia in the United Kingdom. The first incarnation of Nottingham Castle was built by William the Conqueror's son following the Norman invasion in 1068and stood until the 17th century. A new castle was constructed and then destroyed in 1651 but was restored in the 19th century as a museum of fine art. Finally, the City of Caves provides visitors with a unique perspective of the city. Visitors can enter the caves beneath the city and descend into the dark depths of the original Anglo Saxon tunnels.