Dunblane (/dʌnˈbleɪn/, Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Bhlàthain) is a town in the council area of Stirling in central Scotland, and inside the historic boundaries of the county of Perthshire.

It is a commuter town, with many residents making use of good transport links to much of the Central Belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The earliest spellings of the name Dunblane are of the form Dul Blaan, the first element being a Pictish word for 'water meadow, haugh' which was borrowed into Scottish Gaelic.

Dunblane did not have a rich or extensive medieval diocese (37 parishes), and so the cathedral is relatively modest in scale, but its refined architecture is much admired, as is its setting overlooking the valley of the Allan Water.

During the boom years of the Hydropathy movement in the 19th century, Dunblane was the location of a successful hydropathic establishment (see photo below).

Dunblane is close to the University of Stirling's campus at Bridge of Allan, and is a popular location for academics.

On 13 March 1996[5] local man Thomas Hamilton[6] shot dead 16 children and their teacher, Gwen Mayor, in Dunblane Primary School's gymnasium[7] before killing himself.

There are also stained-glass windows in Church of the Holy Rude, St Blanes and Lecropt tempering the Children and their Teacher.

Following the incident, the government passed legislation banning ownership of all handguns—firearms under 60 centimetres (23.6 in) in overall length, in the United Kingdom.

Until 1983, Dunblane was part of the Kinross and Western Perthshire constituency of the UK parliament, being represented by predominantly Unionist (and Conservative) MPs.

Over the course of 6 years, a small group of young local boys and their parents raised money to build a skatepark in the Laighills.

The town is served by Dunblane railway station, which has regular services to Stirling, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The rapid expansion of the town has led to a large increase in local car usage, resulting in considerable parking problems.

Dunblane Cathedral is remarkable in having retained more of its late-medieval choir stalls than any other Scottish church building (except King's College Chapel, Aberdeen), and also is noted for its organ.

A modern extension has recently been completed within its interior courtyard to provide additional exhibition space and allow disabled access.

It was built after a community vote chose that option for money from a consolidation of several funds which were created in the aftermath of the 1996 tragedy.

Dating from the late 19th century, it has been redeveloped and extended several times but still retains its main building relatively intact.

It originally housed extensive spa and therapeutic bath facilities (like the other Scottish "Hydros", such as Crieff and Peebles).

The school has a large playing field (with a basketball court), regularly used for extra-curricular activities and by local clubs.

The houses are named after local castles; Airthrey (red), Doune (blue), Drummond (yellow) and Kilbryde (green).

The name of the school comes from Newton Farm, which goes back as far as the Charter of 1655 when Oliver Cromwell confirmed James Pearson of Kippenross as the owner.

For Primary 7's the uniform is slightly different, instead consisting of white polo shirts and a Darker Navy blue jumper.

The school's chapel is a notable example of Scottish medieval revival architecture, based on the 14th century Dominican (later parish) church of St Monans in Fife.