Gargunnock
Encyclopedia
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The 2001 census population was 944. It is situated on the south edge of the Carse of Stirling
Carse
In Scottish geography, a Carse is an area of low-lying, typically alluvial and fertile land occupying certain Scottish river valleys, such as that of the River Forth.-Carse of Forth :...
, at the feet of the Gargunnock Hills
Gargunnock Hills
The Gargunnock Hills are a range of hills west of the city of Stirling, Scotland. They culminate in the peak of Carleatheran, whose summit is crowned by a trigonometrical pillar. The Gargunnock Hills are separated from the Fintry Hills to their west by the valley of the Backside Burn...
, part of the Campsie Fells.
Several small burns flow down from the Gargunnock Hills
The last naturally suitable crossing point on the Forth before reaching Stirling Bridge is situated just outside of Gargunnock. This, coupled with the land condition and drainage around the feet or the Gargunnock hills, made Gargunnock the ideal location to build a farming settlement.
During the occupation of Scotland, the English posted a garrison in the Peel tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
on the outskirts of the village to protect this important ferry. It is believed that William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
brought his army through Gargowans, setting up fort on the Kier Hill, to take control of this part of the river in advance of the Battle of Stirling Bridge
Battle of Stirling Bridge
The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a battle of the First War of Scottish Independence. On 11 September 1297, the forces of Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated the combined English forces of John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham near Stirling, on the River Forth.-The main...
. Bonny Prince Charlie is also said to have passed through the village on his travels.
More recently, during the nineteenth century Gargunnock was famous for its fine oak-spale baskets, until intensive deforestation removed the raw materials necessary for this trade and the industry moved to Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
.
Now, the village has a very lively community, and a busy primary school, Gargunnock Primary School.
The majority of pupils then mature to educate from Stirling High School, with a minor few attending Balfron High School.