Fintry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fintry
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 Looking down on Fintry from the north slopes of the Campsie Fells |
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 Fintry
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| Population | 717 |
| OS grid reference | NS615865 |
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| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G63 0** |
| Dialling code | 01360 |
| Police | Central Scotland |
| Fire | Central Scotland |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Fintry is a small village in central Scotland, located by the Endrick Water river. It's about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Stirling and 19 miles (31 km) north of Glasgow. The name Fintry comes from an old Gaelic word meaning "Fair Land."
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Fintry's Landscape
Fintry village sits in a valley, called a strath, between two hill ranges: the Campsie Fells and the Fintry Hills.
The village is overlooked by Stronend, the highest point of the Fintry Hills. This hill is 511 meters (1,677 feet) tall.
The Loup of Fintry Waterfall
The Loup of Fintry is a cool waterfall on the Endrick Water river, about 2 miles (3 km) east of Fintry. It drops 28.6 meters (94 feet)! The word "Loup" means "leap" in the Scots language. You can see this waterfall best after a lot of rain or snow.
Protecting Fintry's Beauty
Local Landscape Area
Fintry and its surroundings are special. They are called a Local Landscape Area (LLA). This helps protect the amazing natural environment around the village.
Conservation Area
Stirling Council has also made Fintry a Conservation Area. This helps keep the village's unique historical look and feel. The main part of this area is its long Main Street, which runs along the south side of the river. About 150 of Fintry's 700 residents live in this special area.
Village Life and Facilities
Schools in Fintry
Fintry has its own primary school, which opened in 1961. There's also a nursery for younger children, called Fintry Nursery. Both serve Fintry and the nearby countryside.
Fintry Nursery
The nursery has two rooms and a kitchen. It was recently updated and got a top rating in 2023!
Fintry Primary School
Fintry Primary School is located at the bottom of Dunmore Hill. It has five classrooms, one of which is a library, and an assembly hall. The school also has outdoor areas, including a garden, a sports pitch, and a woodland area. A "School Taxi" helps pick up and drop off kids from the surrounding rural areas.
Balfron High School
When kids finish primary school, they usually go to Balfron High School. A school bus takes them there.
Sports and Rugby
Fintry has a Sports Club with an indoor bowling hall, a squash court, and a gym.
The rugby fields next to the club are home to Strathendrick Rugby Football Club. This rugby team started in 1975. They have even toured other countries like Kansas (USA) and Toronto (Canada)! They also have active teams for younger players, working with local schools like Fintry Primary.
Fintry Public Hall
The Menzies Hall, also known as Fintry Public Hall, was built in 1907 by Sir Walter Menzies MP. It opened to the public in 1908. This building is a community hub, run by local people for the village. It still hosts events and clubs, like the Fintry Amateur Dramatic Society.
Fintry Kirk (Church)
The village of Fintry has its own church, Fintry Kirk. It's a Church of Scotland Parish located east of the village in an area called "Old Fintry."
Getting Around (Public Transport)
Fintry doesn't have regular bus or train services. Instead, Stirling Council provides a special "Taxi" Service that you can call when you need a ride.
Fintry's Economy
The Fintry Development Trust
The Fintry Development Trust (FDT) was started in 2003 by villagers who wanted to use renewable energy. They helped get a community-owned wind turbine for the area.
FDT works to make the village more eco-friendly, aiming for zero-carbon and zero-waste. They have projects like a car-sharing program, a farming initiative, and a community orchard.
The Trust also helps homes save energy by doing surveys and adding insulation. They've installed new heating systems at the Sports Club and Menzies Village Hall to make them more energy-efficient. FDT focuses on creating local jobs and helping young people.
Local Businesses
Fintry Inn
The Fintry Inn is the village pub and has been around for over 250 years! It's run by a local family and has its own small brewery, Mosaik Brewing.
Fintry Sports Club
Besides being home to the rugby club, Fintry's Sports Club has a restaurant/cafe, a bar, a small shop for essentials, and a gym with a sauna.
Knockraich Farm
Knockraich Farm has been owned by the Rodgers family since 1955. It's home to The Courtyard Cafe, Katy Rodgers Artisan Dairy (which makes dairy products), and The Tin Shed, a wedding venue.
Fintry's History
Ancient Times
People have lived in the Fintry area for a very long time, even as far back as the Bronze Age (about 3,500 to 4,500 years ago).
- Todholes Cairn: This is an ancient stone mound in the Fintry Hills.
- Machar/Waterhead Stones: These are two ancient standing stones.
"Old Fintry"
The original part of Fintry, known as "Old Fintry," grew around the church area in the early 1200s.
Culcreuch Castle
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Culcreuch Castle was built in Fintry around 1296. It was the historic home of the Clan Galbraith chiefs for many years. From 1699, the Barons of Culcreuch lived there.
The castle was turned into a hotel in the 1980s and operated until 2020. For 700 years, it was the longest-inhabited castle in Central Scotland! Culcreuch is a three-story stone tower. Later, in 1721, the Clan Napier family added more parts to the castle. You can walk to the castle from the village, and it's a popular local route.
"New Fintry"
A "new town" of Fintry, also called "Newton of Fintry," grew northwest of the old village. This happened after a cotton spinning mill was built by Peter Spiers in 1795. The village still has some of the old mill workers' homes and traditional buildings from the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Notable People from Fintry
Some famous people who have connections to Fintry include:
- Sir Daniel Macnee (artist) (1806–1882)
- Sir Walter Menzies MP (politician) (1856–1913)
- Tom Johnston MP (politician) (1881–1965)
- Victor Carin (actor) (1933–1981)
- Eric McCredie (musician) (1945–2007)
- Right Hon Julian Smith MP (politician) (born 1971)
- Stewart Campbell (sportsman) (born 1972)
How Fintry is Governed
In 2011, the population of Fintry and the surrounding area was 717 people.
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament makes laws for Scotland. Fintry is part of the Stirling Scottish Parliamentary Constituency. This means people in Fintry vote for one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Stirling, who is currently Evelyn Tweed MSP. They also vote for seven other MSPs who represent the wider Mid Scotland and Fife region.
UK Parliament (House of Commons)
Fintry is also part of the Stirling constituency for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London. Their representative there is Alyn Smith MP.
