Stirling Sunderland Train

Stirling is a city in Central Scotland and is clustered around a large fortress and medieval town. The city lies at the mouth of the River Forth and is sometimes regarded as the "Gateway to the Highlands". The city also lies close to the Highland Boundary Fault between the Scottish Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands. Visitors to the city can enjoy many historic buildings and monuments including the Great Hall which was restored in 1999 and the Renaissance Palace within the Castle. The city also has a medieval parish church, The Church of the Holy Rude, which is where King James VI was crowned King of Scots in 1567.

With Stirling's development as a market town and its location as the focus of transport and communications in the region, it has developed a substantial retail sector serving a wide range of surrounding communities as well as the city itself. Primarily centred on the city centre, there are a large number of chain stores, as well as the Thistles shopping centre. However this has been augmented by out-of-town developments such as the Springkerse Retail Park on the city bypass to the east of Stirling.

Stirling railway station provides excellent inter city, regional and local rail services throughout the United Kingdom.

The city of Sunderland in the north east of England has an enviable location, set right on the mouth of the River Wear next to a beautiful coastline and surrounded by easily accessible countryside. The city also has many heritage, cultural and sporting attractions and you will find that Sunderland has something for everyone. Sunderland has many things to see and do including the Sunderland Empire Theatre, St Peters Church which produced the Venerable Bede, Europe's greatest 8th century scholar, the award winning Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and for energetic types, the Sunderland Wall and Silksworth Sports Complex offer climbing, skiing and snowboarding while Adventure Sunderland has facilities for windsurfers, kayakers and divers. Sunderland's green spaces and coastline make an ideal setting for a number of outdoor festivals and events. From the adrenaline rush of the Red Arrows at the Sunderland International Airshow to open air movies at the Sunderland Festival, to traditional ox roasting and fireworks at Houghton Feast, there is always something going on in Sunderland to suit all tastes. After a day exploring the city's museums and galleries why not take time out for a spot of retail therapy! The retail heart of the city is centred around The Bridges Shopping Centre, where over 100 top name high street sit side by side along the bright and airy walkways.