The Guide to Mysterious Stirlingshire (Gregor White, Stirling Observer)

 

 

“Despite its title, this book – as the author makes clear from the outset – is not concerned with old Stirlingshire but the whole of the area currently covered by Stirling Council. So everything from the city of Stirling itself to the western reaches of Drymen, Strathblane et al and the northern territories of Breadalbane, the Trossachs and Strathfillan.

 

Geographically comprehensive, this account of local folklore, standing stones, sacred wells and mist-shrouded history is not stinting in the detail of each community either. Holder has clearly pounded every street, hoofed it up every hill and forded every burn he discusses here, as well as wading his way through a wealth of often contradictory written materials, both recent and much older.

 

Map references accompany most of the more obscure, harder-to-find dites, making it easier for those who are interested to get to them, while entries for prominent sites such as Stirling Castle and Dunblane Cathedral come complete with opening times.

 

In his words the book is “a guide to all things magical, marvellous, mystical, macabre and mysterious” in the Stirling area. But, despite his obvious enthusiasm, it is also refreshing to see the healthy scepticism with which Holder treats many of the sites he visits, whether they be fairy knolls, healing wells or yet another of the seemingly endless list of caves frequented by Rob Roy/William Wallace/Bonnie Prince Charlie.

 

This might be frustrating for readers who like nothing better than a good wallow in old ghost stories and superstitions without a voice of reason interjecting to pour cold water all over their spine-chilling thrills.

 

But the real history brought to light underneath the frills is, for my money, just as enthralling. A good book for those who want to add extra interest to their walks in the local area, there is also much to divert those who prefer reading of a fireside kind.”

 

Gregor White, Stirling Observer