Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells sits in Clackmannanshire as a proper shrine to progressive rock's weirdest masterpiece - all twenty minutes of it captured in gallery form. Walking in, you're confronted with the actual instruments, handwritten scores, and the kind of obsessive detail that only makes sense if you've spent three hours listening to that album on repeat at seventeen.

It's not a massive space, and honestly, unless you're genuinely into Oldfield's work or early Virgin Records history, you'll be through in under an hour. The appeal is niche - music nerds and seventies enthusiasts will get their money's worth, but casual visitors might find themselves staring at a harpsichord wondering what the fuss is about.

The location works well if you're based at Witches Craig or Highland Gateway - both are within easy reach of Stirling, and there's enough in this corner of the Lowlands to fill a weekend. You could pair it with a walk around the Ochil Hills or a visit to Stirling Castle, though I'd honestly recommend checking opening times first. Information online is patchy, and there's nothing worse than driving out expecting to find a gallery only to find the doors shut.

Bring someone who actually likes the album, or don't bother. It's that simple.