Bridge of Allan grew up in the 1820s around a chalybeate spring discovered in the hills above the village. It became a fashionable spa resort for the Victorian Scottish middle class — and the wide tree-lined streets, ornate sandstone villas and well-kept botanic gardens still give it that polished, residential atmosphere. Robert Louis Stevenson spent summers here as a boy and the village makes a brief appearance in Kidnapped.
The village is essentially a single long street — Henderson Street — lined with independent shops, several pubs, a couple of good restaurants and a delicatessen. The Allan Water runs along the eastern edge, and a riverside path connects the village south to the University of Stirling campus (15 minutes) and north into Dunblane (about 45 minutes).
It is a 10-minute train ride from Stirling, or a 25-minute walk through Causewayhead. It makes an excellent half-day excursion, particularly for lunch or afternoon coffee.