Stirlingshire lies just to the north of the
Central Belt of Scotland (effectively the narrow neck of the country between
Glasgow and
Edinburgh) between the
Campsie Fells to the south and
Perthshire to the north. It was described by the 18th century Scottish essayist Alexander Smith as "like a huge brooch (which) clasps the Highlands and Lowlands together."
The county is bisected from east to west by the
Carse of Stirling, the flat and mist-prone floodplain of the upper reaches of the River Forth lying between the Fintry and Gargunnock Hills to the south and the Braes of Doune to the north. Following an extensive programme of clearance and drainage in the 18th and 19th centuries, this originally desolate and boggy area now comprises some of the best farming land in Scotland. From a photographic standpoint, the Carse is characterised by impressive views of the bounding uplands and (providing the weather is right!) some stunning skyscapes.
Much of the western part of the county lies within the
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and, as such, is covered in a separate dedicated gallery. This gallery contains images of the remainder of the county, from the eastern borders of the National Park westwards to the town of Stirling and the tidal reaches of the River Forth.
