Top Rated Parks to Visit in Alva

"It extends for almost a mile and is lined with colorful gardens and elegant shops, including the tradition-conscious Jenners of Edinburgh, founded in 1838 and one of the world's oldest department stores. Also good for shopping is the Princes Mall, popular with its small shops set among fountains and cafés and plenty of places to browse. As well as these temples to consumerism, you'll find restaurants, from fast food to gourmet bistros."

"These beautiful gardens lie in a valley that was once occupied by the Nor’ Loch (North Loch), a boggy depression that was drained in the early 19th century. At the gate beside The Mound is the Floral Clock, a working clock laid out in flowers; it was first created in 1903 and the design changes every year."

"These beautiful gardens lie in a valley that was once occupied by the Nor’ Loch (North Loch), a boggy depression that was drained in the early 19th century. At the gate beside The Mound is the Floral Clock, a..."

"The ancient King’s Park was, as its name suggests, founded as a royal pleasure ground in the 12thcentury, when it was used for aristocratic pursuits such as jousting and hunting. Today, everyone can enjoy the park, and it is one of Stirling’s best-used recreational areas. Many activities take place there, including swings, trampolines, a tennis court, a wheelie park for bikes and skateboarding, and outdoor gym equipment."

"Kings Park is a very popular walking spot, especially for those of us that own dogs (including a few of the SCHT Team). King’s Park is Scotland’s oldest Royal Park, and was owned by the Crown for at least 900 years. It was used by Scottish monarchs and nobility for jousting, hunting, and hawking, and is comparable in importance to Windsor Castle’s Great Park."

"Enjoy a day of outdoor leisure with the whole family at Kings Park in Stirling. A skate park and BMX bike path keep older kids entertained while various play areas are open for all ages. Sports facilities, tennis courts, picnic tables, walking trails, and greens are just a few of the amenities."

"The stunning Norrie Miller walk, along the banks of the River Tay, is made even more impressive by the public art trail that somehow merges culture and nature seamlessly into one wonderful experience. Camera phone at the ready folks – whatever your generation, this is selfie-worthy stuff!. Featuring a variety of sculptures from artists including Tim Shutter, David Wilson, John Creed, Paul Eugene Riley, Kenny Munro, Doug Cocker and Phil Johnson, the art trail is themed around some of the most notable achievements of the city and its people."

"Situated in Newhaven, this sloped, Victorian garden overlooks the Firth of Forth into Fife. This spot is perfect for relaxing under the cherry blossoms in the Spring and enjoying the delights of the lovingly maintained park throughout the year. Ray, our Merchandising Assistant, and Laura, our Finance Manager, favour this park for a spot of quietness with a picnic of foodie indulgence."

"The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is actually two institutions—Modern One and Modern Two—situated within two grand Georgian mansions flanking a sculpture park. Modern One has British artists like Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, and Tracey Emin; American artists like Andy Warhol; and legends like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Modern Two has a particularly impressive Dada and Surrealism collection; you can arrange a private viewing of the archives, a real treasure trove of those movements."

"75 Belford Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3DR (website) Open daily 10am-6pmAdmission is free (charges may apply to special exhibitions). Discover a world-class collection and cutting edge art at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. The gallery is home to a range of contemporary Scottish arts collection, with more than 5,000 items of 20th-century art."

"Glenturret is the most visited Whisky Distillery in Scotland and its Single Malt is part of the Famous Grouse Blended Whisky. The Distillery is situated in Crieff nearby Perth and can be reached easily from Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh by car or with organised bus tours. Glenturret produces single malt whiskies that mature 8, 10, 12, 15 or 21 years in bourbon casks."

"For breakfast, choose from ‘Pimp my Fry’, Rare breed pork sausages, streaky smoked bacon,  Stornoway black pud, Campbell’s prime haggis, smoked paprika and thyme tomatoes, beans, confit mushrooms and a free range egg on sourdough toast, or ‘Matcha Matcha Man’, Brioche french toast, matcha meringue, lemon curd and raspberry mint butter. For brunch try ‘Sunshine on Stockbridge’ sweet potato, plum tomatoes, grilled courgette, guacasaca, free range poached eggs and poblano peppers, sourdough or Waffles – homemade deep Belgian waffles with blueberry compote, fresh blueberries and 100% Canadian maple syrup."

"The Pantry’s Finn & Bear has settled in nicely in Leith, we’ve already lost count of the number of brunches we’ve consumed (possibly connected to the number of Bloody Marys that seem to accompany our early morning feasts). In The Pantry’s Stockbridge restaurant, you can tuck into Sunshine in Stockbridge – it’s only fitting that there should be a Sunshine on Leith too. We proclaim this to be one of Leith’s (possibly Edinburgh’s) Best Brunches!"

"With so many fancy eggs Benedict variations as well as the likes of fig confiture and orange whipped ricotta on your morning sourdough, you know they won’t be going halves on the presentation here. The Pantry is the ultimate brunch spot in Edinburgh if you want something absolutely delicious and, of course, easy on the eye. Plus, their latte art is mind boggling!"

"Probably the place that I miss the most and will definitely visit after lockdown is Chester’s CoffeeHouse. Right at the bottom of King Street, Chester’s is a great wee place with a warm atmosphere and the friendliest staff.The coffee is just what you need any day of the week, the customers are always happy and the owner Hilbert will always stop for a chat to catch up on how life is going. For any canine lovers, Chester’s is a place where you can soak up the atmosphere with your four-legged friend."