Dollar

The ghost of an old Scottish academy town still walks these streets. Dollar sits in the shadow of the Ochil Hills, where sheep-dotted slopes rise straight from Victorian terraces. It's a proper hillwalking base - Law Hill and Castleton Hill offer cracking views across the Forth Valley on clear days.

Dollar Glen cuts a dramatic path through the landscape, its waterfalls and wooded gorges making for a lovely afternoon scramble. The town itself feels quietly prosperous, built around its famous academy that once drew pupils from across Scotland. Dollar Museum tells the story well enough, though it's only open weekends during summer.

From here you're perfectly placed for the southern Highlands. Stirling's just 20 minutes down the road, but you'll find plenty to occupy yourself locally. The hills are riddled with archaeological sites - Muirmill offers glimpses of ancient settlements if you fancy a proper trek.

Most visitors use Dollar as a stepping stone to bigger attractions, which keeps things pleasantly uncrowded. The surrounding countryside rolls away in all directions, dotted with farming communities like nearby Muckhart. It's classic central Scotland - not flashy, but solid walking country with history lurking in every fold of the landscape.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense here. You get the best of both worlds - peaceful rural settings within easy reach of Dollar's amenities and those excellent hill walks. The train from Stirling gets you here in no time, though a car opens up far more exploring options in the Ochils.