Tour of Scotland

City of Stirling

The great battles of the Wars of Independence — when Scotland struggled to be free of English domination — inevitably took place around Stirling, at Stirling Bridge in 1297 and at Bannockburn in 1314. In the uneasy peace that followed, Stirling Castle evolved into a splendid renaissance palace, the favourite royal residence of the Stuart dynasty. Yet drama was never far off. No fewer than seven battle sites can be seen from the castle ramparts.

No wonder, then, that Stirling is Scotland’s newest City — chosen by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in celebration of her Golden Jubilee.

Centred around and below the Castle, Stirling’s Old Town is one of the finest concentrations of historic buildings in Scotland, including many important medieval and renaissance sites. Full details are available from Stirling Tourist Information Office

Things to See in Stirling

Stirling Castle was the strategic military key to the kingdom, particularly during the 13th and 14th century Wars of Independence, and later the favourite royal residence of many of the Stuart monarchs.

The first evidence of wooden fortification here dates to the 11th century, but much of the Castle seen today, including the Palace, Chapel Royal, and Great Parliament Hall, is is magnificent Renaissance architecture, with strong French influence. The castle offers various historical displays, 16th century kitchens, guided tours and the Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders displaying history from 1794 to the present day.

• Map Location

Argyll’s Lodging is perhaps one of Scotland’s most important surviving Renaissance mansions, built circa 1630 by the 1st Earl of Stirling and Viscount Canada. Now splendidly refurbished as it would have been in that period.

• Old Stirling — The Castle
• Old Stirling — Argyll’s Ludging
• Castle and Lodging open all year, 7 days. Admission charged (joint ticket available). Shops. Parking and Restaurant at Castle.

Wallace Monument was erected by public subscription and opened in 1869.

The top of the 220 ft tower, reached by 246 steps, commands one of the finest views in Scotland. Below, three halls or chambers house Wallace’s famous double-handed broadsword, a battle tent and a Scottish Hall of Heroes.

Just don’t expect it to be exactly like “Braveheart!!”

• Wallace Monument — The Official Guide
• Abbey Craig, 1 mile north-east of Town Centre, via Causewayhead
• Open all year (weather permitting). Parking. Admission charged.

The Beheading Stone is a reminder of capital punishment in history, and is thought to have been used for the execution of several important figures; most notably in 1425 Murdoch, Duke of Albany and former Regent of Scotland, two of his sons and his father-in-law the Earl of Lennox, as James I took his revenge for Albany’s misuse of power during James’s minority.

Valley Cemetery For thousands of years, burial, even of the wealthy and prestigious, was anonymous: it was better to be buried inside the church, close to a saint's relics or the High Altar, than outside. From the 12th century, this began to change and by the 16th century outdoor headstones began to appear. The earliest in Stirling is dated 1579. Some stones have trade symbols denoting the deceased’s profession.

The Ladies’ Rock, now in the Castle Cemetery, was once a favourite vantage point for watching royal tournaments in the valley below. The Star Pyramid nearby remembers those who were martyred for seeking religious freedom.

Stirling's Town Wall was built as a defence in 1547 when King Henry VIII of England was seeking to force a marriage between the infant Mary, Queen of Scots and his son Edward. Stirling, being the Royal Court, was continually under attack. The walk, described as one of Europe's finest urban walkways, was constructed around 1723 to 1791. Excellent views can be seen while walking or resting on one of the numerous seats along the walk. It can be accessed from many points in the Old Town, completes a circuit, and is accessible for wheelchairs and prams as far as the Guildhall.

“At each point in the burgh enclosure where roadways passed out to the suburbs and open country were “ports” or gateways. The most elaborate of these was the great Barras Port or Barras Yett at the principal ’south-eastern exit. This was removed in 1770, but its memory is kept alive by the name “Port Street,” where its site is marked in the roadway. In the later sixteenth century a New Port or inner barrier, supplementary to the Barras Yett, was constructed across King Street.”

• Old Stirling — Walls and Ports

Bannockburn Heritage Centre Commemorating King Robert the Bruce’s famous victory a much larger English army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 is an exhibition on the Kingdom of the Scots. Outside is a commemorative Rotunda and the Borestone — traditionally Bruce’s command post — as well as a magnificent statue of the king on his war-horse.

• 2 miles from town centre on Glasgow Road (A872)
• Site open all year. Heritage Centre open April–October, (restricted hours) November–December. Parking,

Cambuskenneth Abbey was closely involed with the Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce’s parliament here in 1326 was the first to include representatives of Scotland’s burghs, and James III and his Queen are buried in the grounds. Much of the building was carried away after the Reformation but the Bell Tower or Campanile (originally 1300) survives in restored condition. The Abbey was an Augustinian settlement founded by King David I in 1147, within a loop of the winding River Forth, and the route from the Castle leads through Friar’s Street and Abbey Road.

• Images of Stirling — Cambuskenneth
• Old Stirling — Cambuskenneth Abbey
• 1 mile east of Town Centre, footbridge across the River Forth from Abbey Road, Riverside, or by road from Causewayhead (Alloa Road A907)

Church of the Holy Rudewas Stirling’s principle church for more than 500 years and the site of the coronation of King James VI (James I of England) in 1567. It remains the only church still in use for worship that has been used for a coronation in Britain outside Westminster Abbey.

The church features one of Scotland’s few surviving medieval open timber roofs. The Nave and tower date in part from 1456–70. A 17th century dispute in the church’s congregation led to a dividing wall being built wihtin the church which was removed during restoration in 1936.

• Old Stirling — Kirk of the Holy Rude
• Open May to September. Admission free.

Old Town Jail replaced the notorious Tolbooth Prison in 1846. A glass lift (elevator) leads toa viewing platform on top of the jail, giving fine views of the Old Town.

Next to the Old Town Jail and set back from the road is the Erskine Marykirk, built in 1825/6. The facade has been retained and incorporated into a modern Youth Hostel.

• St John Street, behind the Tolbooth
• Open all year. Parking. Shop. Admission charged.

Stirling Old Bridge This handsome late 15th century bridge was for almost four centuries the lowest bridging point over the River Forth, until Stirling New Bridge opened in 1831 (and the Forth Road Bridge in 1890). The Old Bridge succeeded earlier wooden structures including the wooden bridge which was at the centre of William Wallace’s victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

• Old Stirling— Stirling Brig
• ½ mile north of town centre

The Bastion was a 16th century defensive tower originally guarding an angle of the Town Wall. It contained a barrel-vaulted guardroom above the Thief’s Pot, which was used as a short-term prison.

• Beneath Thistle Shopping Centre (next to Marks & Spencer). Admission free.

Royal Burgh of Stirling A free, multilingual audiovisual show recounts the history of Stirling from earliest times to the present day.

• Castle Esplanade
• Admission free

Cowane’s Hospital Built by local merchant John Cowane (1637) as an almshouse for “decayed members of the Guild of Merchants”. Houses a Family History Project (genealogical database for Stirling and the surrounding area) and displays on Cowane’s history.

• Old Stirling — Cowane’s Hospital
• by Holy Rude Church, St John Street
• Open April–September. Admission free

Smith Institute Museum and Art Gallery Changing exhibitions on the history and culture of Stirling.

• Dumbarton Road (along from Albert Halls, or via Academy Road / Back Walk from Highland Hotel)
• Open all year Tuesday–Sunday. Closed Mondays. Admission free.

The Tolbooth Built by Sir William Bruce (architect of Holyrood House) in 1705, the Tolbooth served as townhouse, burgh chambers, court and gaol.

• Old Stirling — The Tolbooth
• St John Street / Broad Street
• The Tolbooth has been extensively restored and is now a centre for performing arts and café-restaurant.

Tourist Information centre is open all year round including Sundays in season.

• Dumbarton Road, Stirling. Telephone 01786 475019 or 479901, website www.scottish.heartlands.org
• Other tourist boards are listed in Travel and Tourism Information