Tour of Stirling

Visiting Stirling from Ayrshire is easily done by train. Trains run between Ayr and Glasgow Central every 20 minutes. Trains call at Prestwick, Troon and Irvine on the 50 minute journey. A short walk from Glasgow Central Station to Glasgow Queen Street Station allows you to catch one of the trains that run every 30 minutes between Glasgow Queen Street and Stirling, about 20 minutes travel time. Day return tickets can be bought from the station on departure or on the train itself, no need to book. There are also regular coach tours from Ayrshire towns to Stirling, see Coach Tours at the top left of the Home page for more information.

The town of Stirling is similar to the old part of Edinburgh with its old style buildings and cobbled streets. Much of old Stirling is built around the castle that sits high on top of a volcanic outcrop. The castle, similar in size and structure as Edinburgh Castle, was Scotland's main fortress for many centuries as it situated in the narrowest part of Scotland at the gateway to the Highlands.

The train station at Stirling is situated next to the bus station. Open top buses run throughout the summer up to the castle and about 4 miles east to the most impressive of Scotland's many monuments erected in honour of Sir William Wallace. In winter, a regular bus service runs to the castle for anyone not keen on the one mile treck up to the castle. There is also a bus service in winter to the Wallace Monument. Best to be at the monument before 2 oclock in winter.

Stirling is not as conjested as Edinburgh, this making visiting by car a lot easier. The castle is easily found by car as you can see it from miles off. The roads lead around and up to the castle where there is a large car park at the entrance.

Stirling Castle is built on a volcanic outcrop that is surrounded by a vast relatively flat area in Central Scotland. The first record of a fortification being on this site is in the 12th century.

Stirling Castle’s most notable time in history was during the reign of the English King, Edward 1 (Longshanks 1272-1307) and his son Edward 11 (1307-1327). This period saw Longshanks army capture Stirling Castle in 1296 and set of a series of wars between the English and Scots. William Wallace amassed a force that defeated the English army at Stirling Bridge in 1297 and regained control of the castle. The English recaptured the castle the following year and held it until their defeat by Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314. Bruce then set about demolishing most of the castles defences to prevent the English from regaining this prime location and again housing garrisons there.

Most of what is seen of the castle today dates from the reign of the Stewarts in the 16th century. James 1V (1488-1513) built the Great Hall and his son James V (1513-1542) built the Palace of Stirling for his French wife. James V daughter Mary Stewart (Queen of Scots 1542-1567) was born on December 8th 1542. Six days later, the death of James V led to his infant daughter being crowned Queen of Scotland in Stirling Castles Royal Chapel.

The death of queen Elizabeth I of England in 1603 saw Mary Queen of Scots son King James V1 of Scotland (1578-1625) move to England wher he also became King James 1 of England (1603-1625). James V1 was the last Scottish king to use Stirling Castle as a royal residence. Stirling Castle is open to the public April-September 09.30-1800 and October-March 0930-1700.

The Wallace Monument that can be seen from Stirling Castle was built in 1869 on the site William Wallace and his men were thought to have gathered before his famous victory over the English in 1297. This 220 feet high monument has 246 steps leading to an open gallery at the top that gives increadble views over Scotland's most fought over ground. There is a visitor center at the bottom of the hill with a regular mini bus service up the steep winding road to the monument. A small fee allows anyone fit enough to climb to the top.

Late Rooms is an excellent website for booking many of the hotels in Stirling. Simply click on the banner below and view rates for hotels over the next few days. To view dates up to three months in advance, Click on the Hotels Details then use the Search Engine to view the dates you require. Rooms can then be booked using the secure online booking system.