The Stirling Old Bridge is a four-arched stone bridge across the River Forth, built in the late 15th century to replace the wooden bridge that William Wallace and Andrew Moray destroyed in the 1297 battle. For four hundred years it was the only road crossing of the Forth for many miles upstream or downstream — which is why Stirling became the strategic key to the whole of Scotland.
The bridge's southern arch was demolished in 1745 by General Blakeney to prevent the Jacobite army from crossing during the rising of that year. It was rebuilt in 1749 in matching style, and the bridge was relieved of road traffic in 1832 when the New Bridge opened a hundred metres downstream. It now carries only pedestrians and cyclists.
It is a pleasant 10-minute walk down from the city centre, with good views of the castle on its rock and of Cambuskenneth Abbey across the meadows on the far bank.