Stirling Castle | The seat of Scotland

Sitting on top of a volcanic crag, Stirling Castle dominates the landscape. Fortified since ancient times, it was an important royal residence and occupied the most important strategic location in the country. It was said that whoever held Stirling, held Scotland.
Its position at the crossroads between North and South, East and West, and where the Stirling Bridge crosses the river Forth, made this the perfect site for a stronghold.
It’s probable that there has been a fortification on this site for more than 3,000 years. In fact it’s thought that the Roman, Agricola, built a fort on this site in around 80AD.
The castle has seen many battles, including: the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297; and the Battle of Bannockburn, 1314.
The Queen Anne garden was once a bowling green. The beech tree there is 200 years old.
From the ladies lookout, the royal family could see an elaborate terraced garden, orchard, and the kings hunting park. In the distance is the Vale of Menteith and the southern Highlands.
The King’s Knot garden is believed to be the location of King Arthur’s round table.
The castle’s exhibition tells the stories of the castle’s history from its earliest times to the present day.
Beneath the palace are the vaults with fun and interactive exhibitions. They tell the story of the musicians, painters, carvers, tailors and the jesters who lived and worked at the castle.
The Royal Lodgings convey the sumptuous and fashionable suite of apartments created by James V (5th) for himself and his aristocratic French bride, Mary of Guise.
Inside you will come across costumed guides dressed as characters who would have lived and worked at the castle. All the guides we came across were very approachable and knowledgeable and you really can ask them anything!
The fireplaces in the King’s Inner Hall and Bedchamber are carved with lions, thistles, and eagles. Their significance in uncertain; but it’s thought they come from a poem written by William Dunbar called the Thrissill and the Rois. It was written in 1503 to celebrate King James IV’s marriage to Margaret Tudor of England and the poet likens the King of Scots to three powerful symbols: the lion, the eagle and the thistle.
The Queen’s Bedchamber is packed with references to her French heraldry and bedecked with sumptuous, brocaded cloths of gold, and Persian carpets.
The oldest football in the world was discovered high up in the rafters of the Queens’ chamber!
In the Queen’s Inner Hall, is displayed a set of tapestries depicting the Hunt of the Unicorn. They were partly woven in the castle and are closely based on a set of tapestries produced in the 1500s, which are now in New York.
On display in the Stirling Heads museum are the original carved oak Heads which once adorned the ceiling of King James Vs chambers. Each one is 1 metre wide and depict images of kings, queens, nobles, Roman emperors and characters from the Bible and Classical mythology.
On one of the Stirling Heads was found a secret code; it turned out to be a long lost requiem!
During excavations, medieval bodies were found buried under the location of a long lost chapel. Because of the location of their grave, they are thought to be people of great stature.
The original chapel was where Queen Mary was crowned as Queen of Scots in 1542 when she was just 6 days old.
It was rebuilt by James VI (6th) in 1594. It was completed in less than seven months; just in time for the baptism of his first son, Henry and became one of the first protestant places of worship in Scotland.
The frieze is original and was painted by Valentine Jenkin in 1628.
King James V was known to secretly sneak out of the castle dressed in rags, go into town and mingle with the locals!
The Great Hall provided the spectacular setting for state events. Now restored to its former glory, this is the largest medieval space in Scotland. It’s where the King and Queen hosted great banquets and celebrations.
For the baptism of Henry, James VI’s first-born son, the fish course was brought in on a giant ship; a splendid replica of a great sailing ship, sailing on an artificial sea from which volleys fired from brass guns. It’s thought this may be the origin of the phrase “pushing the boat out”.
The castle became the depot of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. A regimental museum dedicated to their long and distinguished history can be found in the King’s Old Building.
The North Gate dates back to 1381 and is probably the oldest standing building in the castle.
Within the grounds of the Nether Bailey are the Guard House and four powder magazines, built around 1810.
There is also an exhibition which tells the story of how the Unicorn tapestries were recreated so they could be displayed once more in the Queen’s Inner Hall.
There is so much more to the fascinating history of Stirling Castle than we have mentioned here. It is an amazing place to explore!