Dunblane (Gaelic: Dùn Bhlàthain) is a town in Stirlingshire in the Central Belt of Scotland. It grew up around the cathedral, which is now demoted to a parish church. It became a spa town during the 19th century, when the Dunblane Hydro Hotel was built to cathedral-like proportions. In the late 20th century good rail and road connections turned it into a commuter town, within an hour of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The tennis player Sir Andy Murray (1987- ) went to school in Dunblane. Aged 9, he was there during the Dunblane school massacre of 1996, taking cover in another classroom; his family knew the perpetrator.
Thomas Hamilton was a 43 year-old local man who had been involved in youth work, and was briefly a Scout leader, but there were recurrent concerns about his sexualised behaviour with young boys and he was blacklisted. He complained bitterly to all and sundry (even to the Queen) that he was the victim of persecution by police and the Scout movement. He held, quite legally, two 9mm Browning HP pistols and two Smith & Wesson M19 .357 Magnum revolvers. At about 09:30 on Wed 13 March 1996 he made his way into Dunblane Primary School, and entered the gym where a class of five-year olds were about to start a PE lesson. He began firing rapidly. Over the next four minutes 32 were shot; 15 children died plus the PE teacher. Hamilton then shot himself.
- Dunblane Cathedral, The Cross, Dunblane, +44 1786 825388. Apr-Sept M-Sa 09:30-17:30, Su 14:00-17:30; Oct-Mar M-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 14:00-16:00. Large church, technically no longer a cathedral since the Presbyterians abolished bishops. Mostly Gothic dating from the 13th C, restored late 19th. Note the woodwork of the 15th C choir stalls, and the memorial in the nave to the massacre of 1996.
- Dunblane Museum, The Cross, Dunblane, FK15 0AQ, +44 1786 825691. Easter to mid-October: M-Sa 10:30-16:30. Volunteer-run museum about the cathedral and town, with a significant collection of communion tokens.
Dunblane Cathedral, The Cross, Dunblane, +44 1786 825388. Apr-Sept M-Sa 09:30-17:30, Su 14:00-17:30; Oct-Mar M-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 14:00-16:00. Large church, technically no longer a cathedral since the Presbyterians abolished bishops. Mostly Gothic dating from the 13th C, restored late 19th. Note the woodwork of the 15th C choir stalls, and the memorial in the nave to the massacre of 1996.
Dunblane Museum, The Cross, Dunblane, FK15 0AQ, +44 1786 825691. Easter to mid-October: M-Sa 10:30-16:30. Volunteer-run museum about the cathedral and town, with a significant collection of communion tokens.
- Doune and Dunblane Show is an agricultural show and Highland Games, held on the first Saturday in July. The next event is Sat 4 July 2020 at Keir Mains, a mile south of town. From M90 terminus jcn 11 take B824 west.
Doune and Dunblane Show is an agricultural show and Highland Games, held on the first Saturday in July. The next event is Sat 4 July 2020 at Keir Mains, a mile south of town. From M90 terminus jcn 11 take B824 west.
- Monterey Jack's, Riverview, High St FK15 0EE, +44 1786 824234. Su-Th 11:00-00:00, F Sa 11:00-01:00. Chain American-style burger restaurant. It's rumoured that this branch will close after April 2019.
- India Gate Tandoori is at the junction of High St and Perth Rd. It's open daily from around noon to 22:30.
Monterey Jack's, Riverview, High St FK15 0EE, +44 1786 824234. Su-Th 11:00-00:00, F Sa 11:00-01:00. Chain American-style burger restaurant. It's rumoured that this branch will close after April 2019.
India Gate Tandoori is at the junction of High St and Perth Rd. It's open daily from around noon to 22:30.
- Riverside Pub is at 7C Stirling Rd, open daily 10:00-00:00.
- Tappit Hen on Kirk St is a Belhaven pub, open daily 12:00-00:00.
Riverside Pub is at 7C Stirling Rd, open daily 10:00-00:00.
Tappit Hen on Kirk St is a Belhaven pub, open daily 12:00-00:00.