Just a cannonball's trajectory away from Stirling Castle and minutes away from the National Wallace Monument, the area surrounding The River House Restaurant is steeped deep into history. Sitting beside a small loch, the restaurant has a distinctive roof and a charmingly pleasant exterior whilst the interior is imaginatively decorated with creative lighting and artistic bric-a-brac. The glass panelled windows and doors bring in lots of sun and provide some excellent views of the castle.

Classical dishes with a contemporary spin grace the kitchen that focuses on locally sourced quality ingredients to produce precision in the depth of flavour. So expect to be lured by the likes of griddled Scottish sirloin steak with a wild mushroom and Dijon mustard jus, spinach and ricotta ravioli topped with a parmesan and pine nut crust along with a small tossed salad, and grilled sole fillets layered with smoked halibut and a dill, lemon and Pernod dressing.

To complement the meal, a good range of wines is to hand.