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A broad leaf-covered drive through tall autumn trees in Plean Country Park, benches and a bin at the side and a small dog on the path.
Stirlingshire

Plean Country Park

Stirling Council's country park at Plean: woods, wildflower meadows and ponds round the derelict Plean House, with free parking.

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Welcome

Plean Country Park is a big, peaceful spread of woods, meadows and ponds on the edge of Plean, about five miles from Stirling, and an easy place to while away a morning.

Its 89 hectares were once the grounds of Plean House, built around 1819 by a sea captain who had made his fortune in the Far East. The house still stands, derelict now, among the rhododendrons and azaleas of its old gardens. Coal was dug from pits round the edges of the estate until the early 1960s. Look closely and there are still traces of the old tramways and bings among the trees. In June and July the meadows fill with greater butterfly orchids, and dragonflies hunt along the drives. Children will love the play area, the trim trail and the wooden animals carved round the park. There are toilets, too, and a free car park off Cadger's Loan.

A short drive awayThe Stirling Smith Art Gallery & MuseumStirling's own art gallery and museum, founded by the painter Thomas Stuart Smith and opened in 1874; free, Wednesday to Sunday.13 min by roadSee itThe Stirling Smith's columned front in its garden, framed by trees.
Before you go

Open every day of the year.

Where
Off Cadger's Loan, Plean, about five miles from Stirling, FK7 8BB.
Open
Every day from 7am. The gates close at 9pm in summer, and at 7pm from the end of October, when the clocks go back, to the end of February.
Parking
A free car park, open with the park.
Facilities
Toilets, including an accessible toilet and baby changing; a children's play area, picnic tables, a trim trail and an enclosed field for exercising dogs.
Access
Most paths have a finished surface and suit all users; some informal paths and steeper sections may not suit a wheelchair.
Care of
Stirling Council.

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Where it is

Off Cadger's Loan in Plean, about five miles from Stirling, FK7 8BB.

Close byPlean, Bannockburn and Stirling.
  1. A tall white flagpole rises from a grass mound encircled by a low stone wall, bare trees lining the path beside it.BannockburnThe field where Robert the Bruce won in 1314, with his bronze statue, the rotunda and a view to Stirling Castle; grounds open daily.4 miles 8 min by road
  2. Stirling CastleStirling CastleThe great royal castle on its crag above Stirling, where Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned, with the Great Hall and the Royal Palace.7 miles 14 min by road
  3. The Falkirk WheelThe Falkirk WheelThe world's only rotating boat lift, lifting boats 35 metres between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.7 miles 19 min by road
  4. Cambuskenneth AbbeyCambuskenneth AbbeyThe ruined abbey by the Forth below Stirling, with a bell tower of the 1200s and the grave of James III.8 miles 14 min by road
  5. Wallace Monument tower rising above snow-covered trees and hills near StirlingWallace MonumentThe tall Victorian tower on the Abbey Craig above Stirling, with the Wallace Sword inside and a view from the Crown after 246 steps.8 miles 13 min by road
  6. The PineappleThe PineappleA stone pineapple of 1761 on a garden summerhouse near Airth, called the most bizarre building in Scotland; grounds open daily.9 miles 17 min by road
  7. The KelpiesThe KelpiesAndy Scott's two 30-metre steel horse heads beside the canal at Falkirk, the largest equine sculptures in the world.11 miles 21 min by road
Directions
The ruined drystone walls of Tappoch Broch on its heathery hilltop in the Tor Wood, Scots pines round it and farmland and hills far off under a blue sky.AttractionsTappoch Broch1.9 miles
The Bite East sign above the restaurant's windows.RestaurantsBite East5.4 miles
The Book Nook's shopfront on Upper Craigs, with purple doors and window boxes.ShoppingThe Book Nook Stirling5.5 miles
Sandstone building shopfront with "Indian Cottage" signage above large windowsRestaurantsIndian Cottage5.5 miles
The cobbled curve of Bow Street climbing towards Stirling's Old Town.AttractionsStirling City Centre5.8 miles
Bob & Berts' blue sign and glass front on Murray Place, Stirling.CafeBob and Berts5.8 miles
Mint Cafe Patisserie & Sweets shopfront with pavement tables on a cobbled streetCafeMint5.9 miles
The Stirling Smith's columned front in its garden, framed by trees.AttractionsThe Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum5.9 miles
A framed drawing of Stirling above tins of biscuits.ShoppingMade in Stirling6.0 miles

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The Daily for 21 October, from Scotland with love. a small wooded island reflected in a misty loch, autumn forest and hills along the far shore

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the park, and when each is next free.

A grand stone mansion with multiple gables and chimneys stands behind a lawn set with wicker chairs, seen through overhanging leaves.Cromlix
  • To stay
  • In Kinbuck
  • 12 miles from Plean Country Park
Check datesA landscape view of Whitehill on its hill: the steadings, the farmhouse and its red-roofed wing in low sun across a field of young crop.Whitehill Farm House
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Auchterarder
  • 19 miles from Plean Country Park
Free 22–26 OctA grey sofa with cushions sits before a black and white kitchen, a framed print on the wall to the left.Moment Blythswood Street
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Stirlingshire
  • 20 miles from Plean Country Park
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in StirlingshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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