Dunblane Cathedral

Dunblane Cathedral stands at the heart of the small Stirlingshire city of Dunblane, rising above the wooded banks of the Allan Water. Though styled a cathedral, it has served as the parish kirk of Dunblane since the Reformation and remains an active place of worship. The building is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of medieval Gothic architecture in Scotland.

The most striking external feature is the freestanding lower section of the bell tower, which is Norman in origin and predates the rest of the church. The nave, choir and west front were largely rebuilt in the 13th century under Bishop Clement, and the great west door and rose window are particularly admired. After centuries of partial ruin, the nave roof was restored in the 1890s in a sensitive scheme led by Sir Rowand Anderson.

Inside, visitors can see the medieval choir stalls with their carved misericords, the Barty chapel, and the modern memorial to the children and teacher who died in the Dunblane tragedy of 1996, which is set within the quiet cloister-like setting of the kirkyard. The cobbled cathedral close, with its small museum and tearooms, makes for an atmospheric short visit easily combined with a stroll along the river.