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Castle
Stirling Castle
Royal castle on a volcanic crag; the Royal Palace was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots.
A mini guide to
Stirling and Bannockburn
The castle on its crag, the Old Town below it, the Wallace Monument and the Bannockburn battlefield
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
The castle on its crag, the Old Town below it, the Wallace Monument and the Bannockburn battlefield
Stirling Castle stands on a volcanic crag above the city. Historic Environment Scotland describes it as one of Scotland's greatest stone castles: inside are the Great Hall, the Royal Palace where Mary Queen of Scots spent her childhood, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum. The Old Town runs downhill from the castle esplanade, past Argyll's Lodging, Mar's Wark, the Church of the Holy Rude, Cowane's Hospital and the Old Town Jail.
Across the River Forth, the National Wallace Monument rises from Abbey Craig above the fields of the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), and the medieval Old Bridge still crosses the river. Two miles south of the station, the National Trust for Scotland's Bannockburn Visitor Centre stands near the field of Robert the Bruce's victory in 1314. Doune Castle, about 8 miles north-west, is a short drive away.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Museum
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
Regimental museum inside Stirling Castle, included in castle admission, telling the story of the 91st and 93rd Highlanders.
Directions Website Report a problem with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
Memorial
Statue of Robert the Bruce
Statue of 1876 on the castle esplanade by Andrew Currie, facing south towards Bannockburn.
Historic house
Argyll's Lodging
Seventeenth-century noble townhouse below the castle, shown on guided tours with recreated interiors.
Ruins
Mar's Wark
Facade of a Renaissance mansion begun about 1570 by the Earl of Mar, keeper of Stirling Castle.
Church
Church of the Holy Rude
Medieval parish church founded in 1129, where James VI was crowned; still in use.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Stirling and Bannockburn and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk up to the castle
Historic Environment Scotland says the castle car park is closed to all vehicles except coaches and visitors who need accessible parking, so plan to walk up through the Old Town or use a town car park.
2
Book the Wallace Monument
The monument asks visitors to book a timed entry slot online. Wikipedia notes 246 steps to the top platform and that the tower is not accessible to disabled visitors.
3
Bannockburn is outside the centre
Visit Glasgow puts the Bannockburn Visitor Centre about 2 miles from Stirling station and advises booking before you visit.
4
Doune Castle
Historic Environment Scotland's Doune Castle featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander. Book a timed ticket on its site.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Stirling and Bannockburn
Stirling and the Trossachs
More areas to explore
Photo credits
- Stirling and Bannockburn (area photo): Finlay McWalter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Stirling Castle: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum: Janfrie1988, Public domain, source
- Statue of Robert the Bruce: Eusebius, CC BY 3.0, source
- Argyll's Lodging: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mar's Wark: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Church of the Holy Rude: Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cowane's Hospital: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Stirling Old Town Jail: RayFyfe, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- King's Knot: Martin Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stirling Old Bridge: Iain Cameron, CC BY 2.0, source
- National Wallace Monument: Robert Cutts from Bristol, England, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Cambuskenneth Abbey: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bannockburn Visitor Centre: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Doune Castle: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Callander and the Trossachs: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Stirling and the Trossachs