Editing Stirling (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Stirling Bridge and Wallace Monument.JPG|thumb|Stirling Old Bridge with the Wallace Monument and Abbey Craig in the background, one of a [[Gillies Hill#Geology and topography|series of local Crag and Tail hills]].]]

Stirling is renowned as the ''Gateway to the Highlands'' and is generally regarded as occupying a strategic position at the point where the flatter, largely undulating Scottish Lowlands meet the rugged slopes of the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] along the [[Highland Boundary Fault]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crxqdevlel8C&pg=PA271|title=Scotland|last=Miers|first=Richenda|page=271|publisher=The Globe Pequot Press|year=2006|isbn=9781860113390 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Josephine Buchanan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aynVaKQqJCgC&pg=PA213 |title=Scotland |publisher=APA Publications |year=2003 |isbn=9789812349507 |page=213 |oclc=51814943 |access-date=6 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605201330/http://books.google.com/books?id=aynVaKQqJCgC&pg=PA213 |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The starkness of this contrast is evidenced by the many hills and mountains of the lower Highlands such as [[Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)|Ben Vorlich]] and [[Ben Ledi]] which can be seen to the northwest of the city. On the other hand, the [[Carse|Carse of Stirling]], stretching to the west and east of the city, is one of the flattest and most agriculturally productive expanses of land in the whole of Scotland.

The land surrounding Stirling<ref>{{cite web |title=OS 10-mile Geological |url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=11&lat=56.1181&lon=-3.9360&layers=10geol&b=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130162106/http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=11&lat=56.1181&lon=-3.9360&layers=10geol&b=1 |archive-date=30 November 2012 |access-date=3 April 2017 |website=[[National Library of Scotland]]}}</ref> has been most affected by [[glacial]] erosion and [[Deposition (sediment)|deposition]]. The city itself has grown up around its castle which stands atop an ancient [[quartz-dolerite]] [[Sill (geology)|sill]], known as the [[Stirling Sill]], a major defensive position which was at the lowest crossing point on the River Forth. Stirling stands on the Forth at the point where the river widens and becomes [[tide|tidal]]. To the east of the city the [[Ochil Hills]] dominate the skyline with the highest peak in the range being [[Ben Cleuch]], although [[Dumyat]] is more noticeable from Stirling. The Ochils meet the flat [[carse]] ([[floodplain]]) of the River Forth to the east of the distinctive geographical feature of [[Abbey Craig]], a [[crag and tail]] hill upon which stands the 220&nbsp;ft (67 m) high [[Wallace Monument|National Wallace Monument]].<ref>[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst10406.html Abbey Craig] ''Gazetteer for Scotland'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105025259/http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst10406.html|date=5 January 2012}}</ref>

===Areas of Stirling===
'''Top of the Town''' consists of Broad Street, Castle Wynd, Ballengeich Pass, Lower Castle Hill Road, Darnley Street, Baker Street (formerly Baxters St), St John Street and St Mary's Wynd. These streets all lead up to Stirling Castle and are the favourite haunt of tourists who stop off at the Old Town Jail, [[Mar's Wark]], [[Argyll's Lodging]] and the castle. Ballengeich Pass leads to the graveyard at Ballengeich and the Castle Wynd winds past the old graveyard. The Top of the Town from Broad Street upwards is renowned for its cobblestoned roads, and cars can be heard rattling over the cobblestones on the way down. Craft shops and tourist-focused shops are evident on the way up and once at the top, panoramic views are available across Stirling and beyond.

'''All areas<ref name="OS 25 inch Scotland">{{cite web |title=Zoomable street map with opacity control |url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=56.1286&lon=-3.9370&layers=168&b=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130162106/http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=56.1286&lon=-3.9370&layers=168&b=2 |archive-date=30 November 2012 |access-date=4 April 2017 |website=Map Images |publisher=[[National Library of Scotland]]}}</ref>'''

[[File:Broad St Stirling Scotland.jpg|thumb|right|Broad Street, at the heart of Stirling's Old Town area (called "Top of the Town" by locals)]]
{{div col|colwidth=9em}}
* Abbey Craig
* Airthrey
* Allan Park
* Back o' Hill
* [[Bannockburn]]
* Borestone
* Braehead
* Bridgehaugh
* [[Broomridge]]
* Brucefields
* Burghmuir
* [[Cambusbarron]]
* [[Cambuskenneth]]
* Causewayhead
* Chartershall
* Corn Exchange
* [[Cornton]]
* Coxethill
* Craigforth
* Craigmill
* Craig Leith
* Cultenhove
* [[Dumyat]]
* Forthbank
* Gillies Hill
* Gowan Hill
* Hillpark
* Kenningknowes
* Kersemill
* Kildean
* King's Park
* Ladyneuk
* Laurelhill
* Livilands
* Loanhead
* Logie
* [[Mote Hill]]
* Meadowforth
* Mercat Cross
* Pirnhall
* Queenshaugh
* [[Raploch]]
* Randolphfield
* Riverside
* Spittal Hill
* Springkerse
* [[St. Ninians (Stirling)|St. Ninians]]
* Top of the Town
* [[Torbrex Village|Torbrex]]
* Whins of Milton
* Viewforth
* Westhaugh
* Wolfcraig
{{div col end}}

Historical place names for Stirling town in 1858–61 were compiled by [[Ordnance Survey|O.S.]] map makers.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/stirlingshire-os-name-books-1858-61/stirlingshire-volume-24?transcription=1 |title=Stirlingshire OS Name Books, 1858–61 |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |access-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409021229/http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/stirlingshire-os-name-books-1858-61/stirlingshire-volume-24?transcription=1 |archive-date=9 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
Like most of the [[United Kingdom]], Stirling has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfb'') with mild summers and cool, wet winters. Stirling has some of the warmest summers in all of Scotland, being relatively far away from the cooling effects of the [[North Sea]] and the [[Firth of Clyde]].

{{Weather box
|location = Stirling (1991–2020 averages, extremes 2009–present, [{{convert|25|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} asl])
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 13.6
|Feb record high C = 15.5
|Mar record high C = 17.1
|Apr record high C = 21.1
|May record high C = 27.8
|Jun record high C = 32.3
|Jul record high C = 29.0
|Aug record high C = 24.9
|Sep record high C = 23.8
|Oct record high C = 19.7
|Nov record high C = 15.7
|Dec record high C = 14.5
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 7.3
|Feb high C = 8.1
|Mar high C = 9.9
|Apr high C = 12.4
|May high C = 15.7
|Jun high C = 18.1
|Jul high C = 19.9
|Aug high C = 19.5
|Sep high C = 17.1
|Oct high C = 13.5
|Nov high C = 10.0
|Dec high C = 7.5
|year high C = 13.3
|Jan mean C = 4.4
|Feb mean C = 5.0
|Mar mean C = 6.4
|Apr mean C = 8.3
|May mean C = 11.3
|Jun mean C = 14.0
|Jul mean C = 15.7
|Aug mean C = 15.3
|Sep mean C = 12.9
|Oct mean C = 9.8
|Nov mean C = 6.7
|Dec mean C = 4.3
|year mean C = 9.5
|Jan low C = 1.4
|Feb low C = 1.9
|Mar low C = 2.9
|Apr low C = 4.3
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 9.8
|Jul low C = 11.5
|Aug low C = 11.1
|Sep low C = 8.8
|Oct low C = 6.2
|Nov low C = 3.5
|Dec low C = 1.1
|year low C = 5.8
|Jan record low C = -11.1
|Feb record low C = -7.6
|Mar record low C = -5.8
|Apr record low C = -3.9
|May record low C = -1.7
|Jun record low C = 3.6
|Jul record low C = 5.0
|Aug record low C = 3.8
|Sep record low C = 1.0
|Oct record low C = -2.8
|Nov record low C = -6.6
|Dec record low C = -15.6
|year record low C = 
|Jan rain mm = 129.3
|Feb rain mm = 97.3
|Mar rain mm = 74.5
|Apr rain mm = 51.4
|May rain mm = 56.9
|Jun rain mm = 66.6
|Jul rain mm = 70.1
|Aug rain mm = 76.1
|Sep rain mm = 76.3
|Oct rain mm = 107.4
|Nov rain mm = 109.2
|Dec rain mm = 103.1
|year rain mm = 1018.1
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan rain days = 16.3
|Feb rain days = 13.6
|Mar rain days = 12.8
|Apr rain days = 10.6
|May rain days = 11.3
|Jun rain days = 11.7
|Jul rain days = 13.0
|Aug rain days = 13.0
|Sep rain days = 12.6
|Oct rain days = 15.2
|Nov rain days = 16.1
|Dec rain days = 15.4
|year rain days = 161.4
|Jan sun = 39.1
|Feb sun = 66.9
|Mar sun = 99.5
|Apr sun = 137.8
|May sun = 183.1
|Jun sun = 162.0
|Jul sun = 153.7
|Aug sun = 150.5
|Sep sun = 119.5
|Oct sun = 81.3
|Nov sun = 54.0
|Dec sun = 32.2
|year sun = 1279.6
|source 1 = MetOffice<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcvpnrf34 |title=Stirling climate information |publisher=Met Office |access-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328182122/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcvpnrf34 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stirlingweather.co.uk/monthlyrecord.shtml?x=1553794956065 |title=Stirling Weather |access-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328191946/http://www.stirlingweather.co.uk/monthlyrecord.shtml?x=1553794956065 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}