Scotland's Towns: Heart of Scotland

At the other end of this town is the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world and a true miracle of modern engineering.

Taken together these incredible creations represent the twin forces of strong historical foundations and innovative forward thinking.

Together they are also a perfect reflection of Scotland’s heartland stirring once again.

The fact is that having neither the industrial and economic clout, or the worldwide fame, of Glasgow or Edinburgh has not hindered this central Scottish region.

Indeed, from the central lowlands where we find our two Kelpies to the rugged highlands north of Perth, Scotland’s heartland is awakening.

Perhaps the strength of this economic resurgence should come as no great surprise. After all, from Alloa to Auchterarder and Stirling to Scone, the heart of Scotland has always marched to its own beat – one that reverberates with historic tales of the birth of a nation, the crowning of kings and even the formation of early parliaments.

Birnam Wood, immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, and the victorious battleground of Bannockburn are just two of the outstanding locations in an area rich with history and natural beauty, and which also incorporates the Ochil and Perthshire Hills, as well as the Trossachs.

While it’s true that both Stirling and Perth, despite at one time staking a claim to be Scotland’s ancient capital, have for a long time been in the shadow of the more well-kent cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Now, however, both have recently been granted city status of their own ... and boast big ambitions to grow and evolve. Stirling, of course, is well known for the majestic castle that dominates the skyline and its monument to Sir William Wallace.

As one of the foremost towns in medieval Scotland, it was awarded the Royal Charter around 800 years ago. Today Scotland’s sixth and smallest city has a vaulting ambition to become an economic and cultural powerhouse.

It is already well advanced with its Growth Accelerator Proposal and is progressively expanding through a combination of business and residential development.

It also intends to deliver growth by attracting new residents.

Considered by many as the geographical and historical heart of Scotland, Perthshire meanwhile is an enchanting region, filled with its own natural beauty and great transport links to market towns, country villages and major cities.

Among enduring monuments of its past, grand cathedrals dominate the skyline, including Dunkeld Cathedral, whose origins go back 1,400 years to the time Celtic monks first set up their mission where the River Braan joins the River Tay.

The Fair City of Perth itself has continually evolved from foundations built first by the Romans at Bertha in AD83 then, on the west bank of the River Tay, in 1125 by King David I who set up a new town.

Today it is driving investment through the City Deal, while linking into the wider Perthshire and Tayside areas to partner with Dundee on a Regional Growth deal.

Nearby Alloa has also been busy reinvigorating its town centre through a blend of new builds, retrofits, refurbishments and the regeneration of derelict land and stalled sites.

Much of this important urban revitalisation is happening as part of Town Centre Action Plans.

As Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, points out in her exclusive article on Page 11: "Bringing people back into towns is a fantastic way to deliver a more socially just society and at the same time it delivers economic and community prosperity."

Indeed, the smaller towns such as Auchterarder are delivering great progress through town centre housing projects and digital connectivity.

Auchterarder, in particular, has been incredibly successful in mobilising residents and businesses to deliver improvements.

Such investments, along with recent news of a possible extension to the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link, a local transport lifeline, are certain to continue boosting growth in all of the towns and cities across the region.

The Kelpies of mythology could only be tamed and their powers controlled by getting a hold of their bridle. When it comes to steering future prosperity and happiness, the towns of Scotland’s heartland have shown they have their hands firmly on the bridle of fate.

In this supplement you will be able to discover how both towns and cities are attracting businesses, professionals and young families back to Scotland’s heartland.