Leighton Library


The musty old Leighton Library, dating from 1684, is the oldest purpose-built library in Scotland. In the company of a guide, visitors get to handle and read books from the original collection of Robert Leighton, the late-17th-century bishop of Dunblane. The oldest volume dates from 1504.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Dunblane Cathedral

0.06 MILES

Dunblane Cathedral is a superbly elegant example of Gothic architecture – the lower parts of the bell tower date from the 11th century and the rest mainly…

2. Doune Castle

3.31 MILES

Magnificent Doune Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Scotland, having remained largely unchanged since it was built for the duke…

3. National Wallace Monument

3.88 MILES

Perched high on a crag above the floodplain of the River Forth, this Victorian monument is so Gothic it deserves circling bats and croaking ravens. In the…

4. Stirling Old Bridge

4.28 MILES

Dating from the 15th century, this graceful arched stone bridge is one of the oldest in Scotland, now reserved for pedestrians and cyclists only. An…

5. Beheading Stone

4.3 MILES

According to legend, this lump of stone was used as a chopping block for executions during the 15th century. It is displayed beneath a canopy of iron bars…

7. Stirling Castle

4.54 MILES

Hold Stirling and you control Scotland. This maxim has ensured that a fortress of some kind has existed here since prehistoric times. You cannot help…

8. Argyll's Lodging

4.67 MILES

This elegant building is Scotland's most impressive 17th-century town house, built for a wealthy local merchant and later acquired by the Earl of Argyll…