Stirling Castle

One of Scotland’s largest and most significant, Stirling Castle overlooks its namesake city. The castle has a distinctly royal history about it – not only did it crown many a Scottish monarch prior to the union with England, but it was also routinely sieged in the fight for independence. Now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland, it remains the city’s crown jewel.

There is so much to see and do at Stirling Castle that you really must plan to allow yourself plenty of time to explore. There’s the Great Hall in all its splendour with its minstrel galleries which was built by James IV in 1503. There’s the palace of James V with its royal chambers and furnishings and costumed guides around to help set the scene.

There’s the Chapel Royal in the Inner Close built in the late 1500s. In the Outer Close you can find the Great Kitchen which is laid out with wax work figures showing what life was like in these kitchens.  Below the Palace you can visit the vaults where you will find lots of fun things for children to do and see. Walk through the Queen Ann Gardens and find the Castle Exhibition where you can find out all the history of the castle through the years. Within the palace you can see a gallery of the heads of kings and queens gone by.

In the top square you will find the regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. In the Queen’s Inner Hall in the Palace you can see the most amazing tapestries. There really is something for all the family to enjoy here. For those who have mobility problems and are not able to reach some of the areas there is a special Access Gallery so that they don’t miss out.

The views from the Castle are outstanding. Don’t forget your camera.