A Holiday Guide to Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle overlooks the ancient city of Stirling and is one of the historic buildings that have come to symbolize the spirit of Scotland. The medieval castle sits high on its volcanic rock, making it visible for miles in every direction, looking over the most famous battlegrounds in Scottish history.

Stirling Castle Attractions:

The castle offers many historical and architectural sites within the grounds of the castle, each with its own character and story to tell.
The Forework acts as the defence to the entrance of the castle, and formed part of the curtain wall extending across the entire castle. If you’re interested in delving into the historical details of the past, then you can see where the wall was damaged during the siege and find out the events that took place throughout this time.

The castle’s Great Hall over time has seen many changes and restorations take place; but finally the decision was made to rebuild and renovate the hall to its original state. It was slightly controversial to render and lime wash the hall before its opening in 1999. The result however is that the hall looks much like it would have done to James IV in 1505, so visitors can witness the almost original charm that the castle has to offer, whether they take a tour, which will add further insight into this attraction or just choose to explore at their own pace.

Other sections of the castle worth a visit are, The King’s old building, The Palace (which is undergoing re-construction), The Chapel Royal and The Nether Bailey, which all embrace spectacular views and legendary features, all of which are essential to a visit to the great castle.

Why Visit Stirling Castle?

The various statues and stone carvings that are mounted around the castle walls and on display in the gardens have a wide diversity of appeal, and compel the inquisitive mind to imagine how it would have looked in its earliest state. Take a stroll around the grounds and picturesque gardens and get lost in the beauty and imagination the surroundings provoke.

Stirling’s history is probably one of the most famous in the world especially since the renowned motion picture ‘Braveheart’ was released and featured the castle and its surrounding to stage some of the most infamous battle scenes. You can relive these movie experiences with theatrical staged battle scenarios as well as many other historical reconstructions put on throughout the year.

The castle has been described as a national Scottish treasure; Stirling Castle is one of the nation's grandest visitor attractions, located north of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the castle presides over the local countryside on a commanding rock. The elevated position of the castle presents visitors great panoramic views from its turrets and due to the good condition; most of the castle is open for visitors to peruse round and enjoy.

The castle has facilities, such as a cafe, to make the attraction a full day out. It accommodates school trips and is located in front of a large grass area, which is perfect for picnics in the summertime – as long as the weather is nice.

Stirling Castle Location:

Motorists can reach Stirling by car. From the south, the M9 runs from Edinburgh and the M80 goes to the city from Glasgow. Those driving form Perth in the north can use the A9. There is also a train service to Stirling from Waverley and Haymarket, which run every 30 minutes. Alternatively, there are busses running from these locations on an hourly basis. There is also a bus service from Glasgow, which takes around 45 minutes. So you won’t be lost for ways to get to the castle, and can choose the easiest and cheapest route for you.