Getting Around, Stirling Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Stirling, Scotland, UK)
Stirling's central location makes it very easy to reach from either
Glasgow or
Edinburgh. There's no airport in Stirling, so you will have to fly into either Glasgow or Edinburgh, and then travel by taxi, train or bus transport into the city itself.
There are lots of taxis providing convenient transportation around the city, or you can use the efficient public bus network to travel to your chosen destination. Renting a car is also a good means of transport in Stirling, since driving is the easiest way to reach the outlying attractions and villages scattered over the Central
Scotland region.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) / Arriving by Air
Address: Ingliston, Glasgow Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 0131 333 1000
As there's no airport in Stirling as such, most international visitors fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Edinburgh Airport is the closest airport to Stirling at just 40 minutes' drive from the city centre (48 km / 30 miles south-east), being in the Ingliston / Kirkliston area and next to the Turnhouse Golf Club.
Glasgow Airport is not much further away, taking about 45 minutes door to door (58 km / 36 miles south-west). Edinburgh Airport has 24-hour bus transport departing every ten minutes at peak times, stopping at the Haymarket Terrace, where you can catch a direct rail or bus service on to Stirling. Glasgow Airport runs buses every 15 minutes to Buchanan Street Bus Station, with onward buses also. Of course, you can always hire a taxi at either terminal and head straight to your hotel if you are in a hurry and cost is not a consideration.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) Guide
Glasgow Airport (GLA) Guide
Car Rental
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have all the major car hire firms at their terminals. Car hire is a convenient way to get to Stirling, as well as around the countryside once you get settled in. Stirling is connected with Scotland's main motorway network, via the M9 / A9 to Edinburgh and the M80 to Glasgow. You won't necessarily need a car to travel around Stirling itself, but it will come in handy when travelling to outlying destinations, such as Bridge of Allan town, Callander, Dunblane, Falkirk and Strathearn. If you wish to rent a car in the city itself, instead of at one of the airports, then a reliable local hire firm resides on Kerse Road.
Buses and Coaches
Scottish Citylink coaches depart from both Edinburgh and Glasgow every hour, on the hour. This non-stop service takes roughly 50 minutes from Glasgow and one hour from Edinburgh. In Stirling, the main bus station is to be found next to the centrally located Thistle Centre shopping complex on the High Street / Goosecroft Road. Local buses are a convenient way to get around the city, being well-organised and easy to navigate.
Long-distance bus transport is perfect if you are planning to travel out and about on a budget, with Scottish Citylink buses connecting destinations such as Aberdeen, Dundee, Fort William, Inverness, Oban, Perth and Portree. The First bus company also provides further useful routes, travelling to and from both Aberfoyle and Callander.
Trains
One of the best ways to reach Stirling from other parts of Scotland is by rail, using First ScotRail trains. There are three direct trains an hour from Glasgow and two from Edinburgh, each day. Both journeys take less than an hour and are very pleasant, while additional trains run between
Aberdeen, Dunblane,
Dundee,
Inverness, Perth and even
London (Highland Chieftain / Highland Sleeper trains). Stirling's train station is located five minutes from the centre of the city, close to the
Bannockburn Heritage Centre, and is amongst the busiest in the country.
Taxis
Taxis are easy to find in the city centre, parking outside of Murray Place, next to the main shopping hub, as well as at the train station. The taxis in Stirling come in the form of minivans and regular cars, and all are metered. They are the most convenient way to travel around Stirling and are reasonably priced, due to the compact nature of the city. Taxi transport also offers an extremely convenient direct ride to the airports in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Boats and Ferries
Ferries are not a common way to arrive in the city, but there are some tourist ferry services heading up the Forth River. These are more a fun excursion and relaxing way to sightsee, rather than an actual way to travel between places of interest, and you can't practically use these boat trips as a mode of transportation as such.
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