Stirling Castle Reviews and Photos, Edinburgh

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Stirling Castle

March 6, 2006
Rated 5 of 5 by Milja from Waterloo, Ontario

This was our favourite castle of the entire trip. We took a full day bus tour around Scotland, and spent about 90 minutes at this beautiful castle. This is definitely a sight to see—the view goes for 7 miles on a clear day, and the green grass seems never ending. We took some of our best photos from this location. And the view of William Wallace monument (Braveheart) is great.

I have no idea what the admission price is, as it was included in our bus tour.

We were here in October and the weather was perfect—and still very green.

From journal Weekend in Edinburgh

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Stirling Castle

December 27, 2005
Rated 5 of 5 by Tavia from New York, New York

And on the last day, I found Braveheart.

To get to Stirling Castle, I had to play it cool. Feign disinterest, perhaps even slight disdain for yet another castle with stories of other vanquished Scot royals and warriors. But in the end, my mom and I booked the train to Stirling and were on our way.

The train deposited us at the base of the town about an hour after we left Edinburgh. Rather than hoofing it up that long, steep hill, we jumped in a cab that drove us up to the castle in 10 minutes. It was a scenic ride through Old Town and worth every pound we paid as we relished every step we didn't take!

And there it was, settled up on the tip of the highest hill, with green lawns spreading down in every direction... Stirling Castle, defended by William Wallace, inhabited by Mary Queen of Scots and her son King James, and site of one of the most sophisticated and down right coolest excavations ever. These restorations were archaeological in scope and are in the process of determining what the original rooms were structured like, what their uses were, and how they morphed over the decades.

The self-guided audio tour explained it all fantastically, with sound effects and details that brought all the rooms and buildings to life. I could linger where I wanted and skip ahead when I wanted. From the first steps through the outer gates, my imagination was enthralled. I could hear the horses clattering up into the castle with news for the queen; I could see the ladies in waiting milling about gossiping about the latest scandals between Mary and her deadbeat husband Lord Darnley.

I loved walking through the castle itself and learning about the royal chambers and the hall where the king and queen gave audiences. The chapel, one of the oldest in the whole UK, and the great banquet hall were both amazing when I stopped to think of the historic monets that passed there--Prince James' baptism and the final feasts of Mary Queen of Scots' reign before she was thoroughly under the thumb of Queen Elizabeth of England.

But I must say that my romantic heart got the better of me, and I felt an emotional charge as I listened to the details of the battle William Wallace is most known for--when he won back Stirling Castle from the British on September 11, 1297. And note, people: I have never seen the movie starring Mel Gibson! Stirling Castle is that powerful, the landscape surrounding is that evocative, that simply having the story told to me while I stood there on the castle wall, looking out over at the Wallace Monument, gave me a shiver imagining the pride and surge of power the Scots must have felt at reclaiming their castle. I tell you, history clings to this place like moss on a rock. And just like that, I found Braveheart.

From journal Searching for Braveheart

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Stirling Castle

July 28, 2002
Rated 3 of 5 by Mary Porcher from New Haven, Connecticut

We picked up the car and started off without a problem this morning. I was surprised at how easy it was to adjust to driving on the left. And I quickly fell in love with the roundabouts. There are so many less stops and starts!

Our first stop on the way to Aberdeen was Stirling Castle. It is at the top of a winding road that would have been torture to climb! I was really thankful for the car. The castle has a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. The great hall, the kitchens, and the palace rooms were all very simple. It was fun to walk along the walls in the light rain and enjoy the view. This castle is worth a visit for anyone interested in Scottish history. The Bannockburn visitor's center is nearby, and has an excellent short film and presentation information about the battles fought here. I left feeling incredibly angry at the English, which I think was the film maker's intent.

History Stirling Castle is one of the most famous and fascinating in Scotland. For centuries it has been a virtually impregnable stronghold, located on a hill of volcanic rock. Though it is believed that the castle dates back to the 11th century, with some sort of milatary presence there even before that time, most of the buildings visible today date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle houses the largest Great Hall of its kind, which has been heavily remodeled to appear as intended when designed in 1500.

The castle's location is an important one, connecting the lowlands and highlands of Scotland. Many a noble has taken residence here for protection against internal and external enemies. The rocky cliff leading up to the castle is intimidating, and any attack would be attempted in full range of castle defenses.

Two significant battles were fought within view of the Castle. The first was the Battle of Stirling Bridge, fought in 1297, and the second was the amazing Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.