Located in the very heart of Scotland, Stirling Castle has been an important witness to Scottish history.

This striking castle, once the favored residence of Scotland’s monarchs, makes a great day trip from Edinburgh.

Keep reading to find out more about one of the most historic castles of Scotland!

History of Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle sits atop a rocky hill, or crag, in the modern city of Stirling. The location was strategic – for most of its history, it guarded the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth. Not only that, its central location means that it also lies at the crossroads between the Highlands and the Lowlands.

While earlier defensive structures may have existed, the first record of Stirling Castle dates from around 1110. King Alexander dedicated a chapel here, and died here, indicating that it was by then an important place for Scotland’s monarchs.

The castle played a large role in the Scottish Wars of Independence, when Scotland and England fought for dominance over this northern part of the British Isles. Stirling Castle switched hands several times during the conflict, which took place in the late 13^th and early 14^th centuries.

Two of the most important battles of these wars took place within sight of the castle – the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which saw a Scottish victory by William Wallace and Andrew Moray in 1297, and the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, one of the most celebrated Scottish victories in history in which Robert the Bruce decisively defeated England’s King Edward II.

The Stewart dynasty rose in the 15^th century and Stirling Castle became one of their primary residences. Most of the castle’s buildings date from the 15^th and 16^th centuries, during the Stewart heyday.

Among the events that took place during this period was the coronation of the infant Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543 and the baptism of Mary’s son and heir, the future James VI in 1566. (The celebrations connected to James’ baptism included the first recorded use of fireworks in Scotland.)

After the Stewarts and the Union with England, Stirling Castle continued to be an important military center. The castle’s allegiance was mixed during the Jacobite Uprisings. Later, it became the headquarters of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment, a function it continues to this day.

The People of Stirling Castle

Home to kings and queens, here are a few of the famous personages who have been associated with Stirling Castle:

Alexander I (c. 1078 – 1124): Scottish king during whose reign Stirling Castle was first recorded. Alexander died here.

Robert the Bruce (1274 – 1329): King of Scots and Scottish national hero. He won the great victory against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, within sight of the castle.

Sir Philip Mowbray (died 1318): He was Constable of Stirling Castle when it was held by the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Making a truce with Robert the Bruce’s brother, he promised to hand over the castle in a year if the English failed to relieve it. After the Battle of Bannockburn, Philip kept his word and the castle was handed over to the Scots – with Philip himself changing allegiance from England to Scotland in the process.

William Douglas, 8^th Earl of Douglas (1425 – 1452): A powerful Scottish nobleman, William was stabbed to death by King James II at Stirling Castle, after William refused to end a treasonous alliance with other nobles.

James IV (1473 – 1513): Scottish king who was responsible for undertaking large renovations at Stirling Castle, making it into the magnificent place we see today.

James V (1512 – 1542): Like his father James IV, James V made grand building improvement projects at Stirling Castle. The infant James was also crowned at Stirling Castle in 1513.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 – 1587): After the death of her father when she was six days old, the new Queen of Scots was brought to the safety of Stirling Castle. She was crowned here, and spent her early years here before departing for France, where she married the French king. Upon her return to Scotland, Mary frequently visited the castle.

James VI (1566 – 1625): James, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, was baptized a Catholic at Stirling Castle. (He was later raised a Protestant.) Like his mother, he grew up in the safety of the castle. After becoming King of England in 1603, James departed for London and would return to Scotland (but not Stirling) only once.

What to see at Stirling Castle

There are several things to do and see in Stirling Castle:

The Great Hall

Part of James IV’s building scheme, the Great Hall is one of the grandest rooms in the castle. The hammerbeam roof is a reconstruction of the original, but you still get a sense of how impressive this space must have been. The biggest hit with today’s tourists? Getting the chance to sit on the thrones at the king’s table.

The Royal Palace

Talk to people in 16^th century costumes as you discover rooms decorated as they would have been when Mary, Queen of Scots spent her early childhood here.

The Royal Chapel

Another of James IV’s renovations, the Royal Chapel is where the infant Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned. It was also the place of baptism for two Scottish heirs – Mary’s son James VI, who later became king of a united Scotland and England, and James’ son Henry, who died before succeeding to the throne. The chapel was used as a dining hall for soldiers in later centuries, before being restored after WWII.

The Great Kitchens

Kitchens in castles were large; many people had to be fed and great feasts had to be prepared. Have a glimpse at what life was like for those who prepared these extravagant meals.

Queen Anne Gardens

I’ll be honest here, I don’t know anything about the garden’s history. But I can tell you it was one of my favorite places at Stirling Castle; an ideal place to relax and enjoy the beautiful flowers.

The Stirling Tapestries

There is evidence that tapestries once adorned the walls at Stirling Castle. In the early 21^st century, an ambitious project was undertaken to recreate the famous The Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries (the originals are in the Cloisters Museum, New York); the recreations hang here, at Stirling Castle.

The Palace Vault

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll definitely want to take them to this part of the castle. Filled with fun interactive rooms, such as playing period instruments or trying historic-theme clothing, the vaults are fun for the whole family. It certainly brought out the inner child in me!

Stirling Heads Gallery

Created in about 1540 to decorate the ceiling of his new and impressive inner chamber, the Stirling Heads were commissioned by King James V. They depict kings, queens, Roman emperors, biblical figures, mythological figures. The idea was for James to connect his own power and that of the Stewarts to that of other illustrious personages from history and religion.

Regimental Museum

Learn more about the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment at this museum located within the castle. Formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, the regiment has seen action in such conflicts as the Second Boer War and both World Wars. 16 members of the regiment (and its predecessors) have received Britain’s highest medal for gallantry, the Victoria Cross; some of these Victoria Crosses can be seen in the museum.

Views

The views from Stirling Castle are phenomenal and you can really see why this was such an important strategic location. My favorite is the view from the Ladies’ Lookout(where court ladies used to gather), behind the royal palace.

Wallace Monument

Across the way from the esplanade, you can just make out the Wallace Monument, which commemorates the Scottish hero.

How to Visit Stirling Castle

Location

The address for Stirling Castle is Castle Wynd, Stirling, FK8 1EJ, Scotland.

Opening Times

April to September:

9:30am to 6:00pm (last entry at 5:00pm)

October to March

9:30am to 5:00pm (last entry at 4:00pm)

Tickets

Admission ticket prices vary. Standard admission prices are:

£18.50 (online) or £20.50 (at gate) – Adult

£15.00 (online) or £16.60 (at gate) – Concession (65+ or unemployed)

£11.00 (online) or £12.50 (at gate) – Children (7-15 years)

Check out the official website for a full list of prices.

I recommend booking your tickets in advance for a guaranteed entry at your preferred time.

If you’re staying in Edinburgh and want to visit Stirling Castle as part of a day tour, you can take this awesome tour, which I can recommend from first-hand experience. In addition to Stirling Castle, the tour also visits Loch Lomond and the Kelpies.

Audio guide prices are as follows:

£3 – Adult

£2 – Concession

£1 – Child

There you have it! Will you be adding a visit to Stirling Castle on your next trip to Scotland? Let me know in the comments!