A simple aim, though not easily achieved! Callander was one of the first planned towns in Scotland, laid out with a grid-like structure off a ‘Main Street’ in the late 1770s. It is one of the defining features of the town, as well as being the A84 - a trunk road and major tourist route. Main Street is home to arguably Callander’s most striking landmark - St Kessog’s Church - as well as the majority of its shops and businesses.

Thanks to two rounds of Premises Improvement Grants in 2025 and 2026, the project team were able to coordinate a repaint of some 26 shopfronts along the length of the street. Local community gardening group, Greener Callander, to a brilliant job of growing and displaying planters and hanging baskets during the summer season. And during the winter months, Callander Festive Events organise Christmas lights on lamp posts and the Christmas tree in Ancaster Square. This along with the efforts of other business owners to maintain their premises, the local street cleaner, the Community Council, Callander Business Group and STEP Scotland ensure an ongoing and collective initiative to keep Main Street thriving.

As in our Local Place Plan: “Good places draw people, people draw more people, and more people will drive a successful Main Street.”