Details
Cultural Attraction: Castle
Region: Central Lowlands
Location: Castle Wynd, Stirling FK8 1EJ, Scotland, United Kingdom
Hours:
- April – Sept: open daily 9:30AM – 6PM (excluding holidays)
- Oct – March: open daily 9:30AM – 5PM (excluding holidays)
- last entry 1 hour before closing
Pet friendly: No (service animals only)
Handicapped accessible: Partially yes
Restrooms: Flush toilets
DEN Rating: 10/10
Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/
Online Advanced Ticket Admission:
Adults – $17.50
Concession (65+) – $14.00
Children – (7-15) – $10.50 (kids 6 & under FREE)
Family Tickets available
Walk-up prices are around 10% higher for all ticket types
Valid with Explorer Pass
Historic Scotland Membership accepted
Several partner organization passes accepted
Additional charge for audio tours
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Out of the fifteen or so castles my husband and I visited during our 15-day journey through Scotland, Stirling Castle was hands down the best (a castle a day keeps the doctor away!) We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! This amazing castle is possibly the largest one we saw, feeling at least equal in size to famous Edinburgh Castle. The thing that set this castle apart was the interactive elements, be they permanent interactive exhibits or immersive environments complete with reenactors in period dress. Exploring this castle thoroughly takes at least three hours if you’re steadily moving through the complex (longer if you slow down at all) so come prepared to spend some time here for the full experience. Overall this castle has been quite well preserved so I listed it as a castle and not a castle ruin.
Stirling Castle is a huge complex of royal buildings, workshops, and fortifications atop a huge volcanic rock that rises dramatically from the lowland plains near the River Forth. It’s strategic position made Stirling Castle an important stronghold and center of power throughout Scotland’s turbulent Medeival and Renaissance history, with control of the castle having switched hands between the Scottish and the English several times. From the time of the castle’s first structures were erected in the 12th century until the Union of the Crowns in 1604, nearly every Scottish monarch has lived in, been baptized in, been crowned in, or has died within this imposing castle’s walls. Over time the village of Stirling developed below the castle and is today a lovely place to stroll, dine, and shop.
The inner gate at Stirling Castle created a formidable defense, with turrets on either side, both with strategically positioned arrow slits. When I visited here I imagined myself as an attacker for a moment. An assault on these gates would have been brutal, with little chance of survival unless the attackers were a huge force of thousands.
The Final Defense
The Inner Gate at Stirling Castle provided the final defense before reaching the royal residential complex of apartments, the roof of which stands behind the castle walls. Strategically positioned on top of a volcanic bluff with cliffs dropping away on three sides, Stirling Castle is the quintessential Medieval castle, with layers of fortifications protecting the … Read more
What You Will See
The parking area outside the castle walls has fantastic views of the Wallace Monument and features a statue of Robert The Bruce. Visitors enter through the main castle gate, passing into an outer courtyard area with a gift shop, restrooms, and a booth where visitors can rent audio tour equipment and set up guided tours. Continuing up leads to a green with more east-facing views and another gift shop on the right, and gorgeous Queen Ann’s Garden on the left with a series of ramparts above it which offers views of Old Town Cemetery, and Kings Knot & Queens Knot, which were once formal gardens, down on the valley floor. Throughout this area there are lots of small staircases and little chambers, all of which served defensive and military purposes. Aside of Queen Ann’s Garden, this outer section of the castle is a formidable fortress.
Continue through the second inner gate into a large courtyard. Bear right to reach the The Great Kitchens, with statues placed as if the cooks are busy at their work. Continue beyond to find the large Nether Bailey complex of workshops and storage vaults, which likely date to the 1800’s. Loads of views across the Scottish countryside can be found at the north end of the castle complex around Nether Bailey.
I love this grotesque lurking above the inner courtyard of Stirling Castle. Time has crafted it into something unsettling.
Grotesque
This time-worn grotesque, her features becoming lost beneath moss, peers out from the side of the royal residence complex at Stirling Castle in Scotland. She was likely created in the 1400s. The warmer-colored building behind her is the castle’s Great Hall. I think this was the most eroded embellishment we saw at Stirling. While she … Read more
Instead of bearing right at the inner courtyard, continue straight ahead. There, at the summit of the hill lies main castle courtyard known as The Inner Close, which is boxed in by the main royal buildings of the castle, including the Royal Palace, Chapel Royal, Great Hall, and the King’s Old Building which now houses the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, a Scottish military museum. The Great Hall has undergone more recent renovations and is today a grand space with impressive rafters on the lofty ceiling. The space is available for private functions. Chapel Royal is essentially empty inside.
Lower levels of the Royal Palace include artifacts and interactive displays that are fun for families. In the upper levels guests step back in time, entering drawing rooms, throne rooms, and apartments once occupied by Scottish royalty. These rooms are filled with period furnishings and include reenactors in period dress who can answer questions. The reenactors did such an incredible job…the Queen’s lady-in-waiting in her Majesty’s throne room was particularly enchanting. Every detail in these lavish spaces has been considered, and the result feels authentic. This is one of the wonderful aspects of a visit to Stirling Castle that pushed this castle in particular to the top of our list! The majority of the buildings in the royal central complex were constructed in the 16th century.
Pretty Queen Ann’s Garden is just below the Royal Palace at Stirling Castle. What a paradise! I could have hung out there all day.
Queen Ann’s Garden 1
Red Roses surround the lawn in Queen Ann’s Garden at Stirling Castle in Scotland. I waited for so long to get this picture because, as a rule, I do not ask people to move out of the shot and Stirling Castle is a very busy place. It was approaching closing time so no more people … Read more
Audio Tour
Audio tours are available for $3 adult, $2 concession, $1 children with a 20% discount for Explorer Pass holders. You can use your own device or you can check out a device from the tour booth in the outer courtyard. We did not get an audio tour here, but my positive experience with audio tours at other Historic Environment Scotland locations leads me to believe your money will be well spent as the audio tours are professional, extensive, and normally include a visual component as well.
Entry Considerations and Parking
We made a timed-entry reservation and I’m glad we did because Stirling Castle is quite popular. On summer weekends I imagine it sells out completely, making a timed-entry reservation essentially required. There is a large parking area below the main entrance which was almost completely full when we visited. If you plan on visiting multiple castles managed by Historic Environment Scotland within a two-week period I cannot recommend enough purchasing an Explorer Pass – it works out to be far less expensive. Parking for large camper vans is extremely limited.
Concessions
Stirling Castle is vast and takes half a day to explore. Since reentry is not allowed it’s a good thing there are concessions available within the castle complex. Check out Unicorn Cafe for full meals (seating open 9:30AM – 5PM summer, 9:30AM – 4PM winter, with to-go orders available for 1/2 hours after seating closes). Coffee and treats are available at a snack counter outside the Great Hall in the Inner Close as well.
Facilities And Mobility Considerations
The exterior of the castle is mostly sloping ramps making it handicapped accessible so long as the historic cobblestones are able to be negotiated and the slope isn’t too steep (most ramps are 1:15). Many of the buildings have stairs inside or steps to enter making them inaccessible. The Great Hall and Chapel Royal both have flat entries. Several restrooms in the castle complex are fully accessible. Wheelchair-accessible seating is available on the Unicorn Cafe’s patio. The website does a great job at explaining mobility considerations as well as accommodations and access for other types of impairments: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/access/
Queen Ann’s Garden grows just outside the inner gate of Stirling Castle.
Queen Ann’s Garden 2
Queen Ann’s Garden meets the corner of the inner gate at Scotland’s famous and historic Stirling Castle. I really love this shot because it speaks to both the defensive purpose of a castle but also the luxury and beauty of the royal residential function of a castle. Plus the sky was particularly lovely at this … Read more
Explore Nearby
Stirling is a wonderful historic village with lots of pubs, eateries, and lodging options. After dinner in Stirling at ___ we strolled up The Back Walk and explored Old Town Cemetery, Snowdon Cemetery, Drummond Pleasure Grounds, and Church of the Holy Rude (where James VI was crowned). Evening was perfect there are almost no one else was around and the critters were out in force, especially the rabbits. There is a nice viewpoint looking across to the castle in Old Town Cemetery.
Photographers Tip
We stayed in the castle until nearly 6pm. As guests thinned out the opportunities to photograph everything without a lot of people in the frame increased greatly. Flash photography is not allowed indoors so bring that tripod!
