Stirling Castle Walking Tour (Self Guided), Stirling

Sitting atop Castle Hill in Stirling, Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. Before the union with England, the Castle was also one of the most used of the numerous Scottish royal residences, acting as both a palace and a fortress. Several Scottish kings and queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542, and others were born or died here.

As you approach the Castle's entrance, you can't help noticing standing guard over the esplanade, almost silhouetted against the sky, the impressive monument to one of Scotland's greatest heroes, King Robert I, popularly known as Robert the Bruce.

Most of the Castle principal buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries. A few structures remain from the 14th century, like the North Gate, probably the oldest part of it, erected in the 1380s; while the Outer Defences, fronting the town, date from the early 18th century.

The Forework, the gatehouse providing entry from the Outer Defences into the Castle proper, contains a courtyard known as the Outer Close. From here, to the south you can reach the Royal Palace, the King's Old Building to the west, the Chapel Royal to the north, and the Great Hall to the east.

Nowadays, visitors to the Castle are often greeted with the costumed characters playing the roles of bodyguards, court officials, maids of honor and servants, thus recreating the atmosphere of a 16th-century life. To acquaint yourself more fully with the facets of Scotland's eventful past, take this self-guided walking tour back in time and enjoy yourself!