2024 marks Stirling’s 900th anniversary as a Royal Burgh with a variety of events taking place until April 2025. The city is steeped in history and with some impressive buildings and stunning landscapes and it is a photographers dream. Stirling local, and photographer, Fraser MacDonald loves his home town and shares with us just some of the amazing places to visit when next in Scotland.
Text and all images by: Fraser MacDonald
Nestled between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, Stirling is a city steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty. As a photographer, I’ve found that there’s no better place to explore with a camera in hand—its cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and breathtaking landscapes offer endless inspiration. This year marks the city’s 900th birthday. Stirling inspired me to take up photography. I’ve lived here all my life and can’t see that ever changing. I’d often snap photos of the picturesque city using my iPhone.
One day I decided to buy a camera, and I have never looked back. Stirling acted as the perfect training ground for me. It’s a place often overlooked by passing tourism. But I think it has more than enough beauty to rival popular stops such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. Stirling was granted city status in 2002, but don’t let that fool you. It still very much has that small-town vibe. There’s something unique about this place. It’s pretty hard to explain. It offers something rare: a place where time feels suspended, and yet every moment is fleeting and ready to be captured. It’s a city that invites you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of its environment.
A pivotal location in Scottish history
Stirling Castle stands proud on a volcanic rock, its elevated presence visible from every corner of the city. Many battles of time gone by have been lost and won here. When the sun sets, the soft light dances off the castle’s ancient walls, creating a photographer’s dream. This is my favourite subject in Stirling to shoot. There are so many different angles you can capture, each one offering something unique and magical.
The misty mornings over the old bridge evoke a sense of reverence. If you get there early enough, you can capture the stunning reflection that bounces off the River Forth. Every inch of this bridge is steeped in history. It was an integral part of Williams Wallace’s victory during the first war of Scottish independence. A pivotal location in Scottish history that reverberates through the ages. The National Wallace Monument was built in 1869 and stands 220ft tall. Towering over the River Forth, it really is a sight to behold. There’s no better place in Stirling to capture the sunset. There is something so majestic when the golden rays shine perfectly through the monument’s crown. It reminds me of a solar eclipse and that the world is trying to tell us something.
Something magical about this sleepy old town
Pretty backdrops are an essential part of every photo. In autumn, the Ochil Hills burn with golden and red tones, while in winter, the first frost turns them into a winter wonderland. This ever-changing landscape offers photographers new perspectives with each passing day. In the morning, you can tell how the weather will play out just by looking into the mountain’s soul.
Stirling’s people bring the town to life. Whether it’s the lively gatherings at the annual Stirling Highland Games or the vibrant energy of the university campus, capturing the spirit of the town’s residents adds depth and warmth to the historic backdrop. In every face, you can see a connection to Stirling’s rich past and hopeful future. In every photograph, I aim to encapsulate Stirling’s narrative, celebrating both its historical brilliance and modern ambition while sharing my passion for photography with a broader audience.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible places over the years. I’ve hiked the Hollywood Hills and shot the famous sign, I have stood in the shadow of the Empire State Building and captured its greatness and I have also flown over the Nevada desert and photographed the dazzling lights of Las Vegas. But nothing compares to my hometown. I’ve never taken it for granted and never will. There’s something magical about this sleepy old town…
Follow Fraser MacDonald’s photo journeys across Stirling and beyond at: www.instagram.com/thecanonkid
Stirling 900
It is thought that the original creation of the burgh of Stirling by David I was given as a verbal instruction so no written record exists. The earliest charter is held by Stirling Council archives issued by David II in 1360 that confirmed an earlier charter of King Alexander II given on 18 August 1226.
Burgh status elevated an existing settlement into something more distinctive. The king granted his burgesses or freemen privileges. These included: holding their land and property directly from him, having the right to elect a council, holding their own court, levying local taxes and holding markets. The Stirling 900 celebration will take place between April 2024 and April 2025, to coincide with the coronation of King David.
For more information on Stirling 900 and the list of events visit: www.yourstirling.com/whats-on/stirling-900
Did you know?
Stirling
-The name Stirling probably comes from the Gaelic or Cumbric for “land enclosed by a stream or river” Sruighlea. The origin of the name is uncertain although others claim it comes from a Gaelic or Scots word meaning “Place of battle/Struggle.” It also may come from the Brythonic name for “dwelling place of Melyn.”
-Stirling is the smallest city in Scotland and a former ancient burgh. The town was originally created as a royal burgh by King David I in 1124 which it remained until 1975. In 2002 Stirling was granted city status as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
-Stirling was originally a Stone Age settlement as suggested by the presence of the Randolphfield stand stones and the Kings park prehistoric carvings. Stirling has always been a strategically important place in Scotland due to its defensive crag and tail hill and its position at the foot of the Ochil hills on the border between the lowlands and the Highlands.
-Stirling is dominated by the castle and the medieval old town. The city was the location of several major battles during the wars of Independence. You can still visit the site of the battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314, is a nearby town.
-In 1507 the first attempt of flight in Scotland took place at Stirling Castle. An Italian believed he could fly using feathered wings and jumped from the castle battlements, breaking his thigh in the process as he fell to earth.
– Mary Queen of Scots was crowned at Stirling Castle in 1542.