Alloa Tower is a massive medieval tower house on the Forth plain east of Stirling. It belonged to the Erskine family, guardians of young Scottish monarchs, and its thick walls and furnished rooms give a more intimate counterpoint to Stirling Castle's national theatre.
The tower is run by the National Trust for Scotland and rewards visitors who like architecture and dynastic history. Climb for the views across Alloa and the river landscape, then fold it into a wider Stirling-area day rather than treating it as a standalone expedition.