5 Best Things To Do In Stirling, Scotland
Okay, hear me out.
Sure, Stirling is not one of the big cities in Scotland and when people think of cool things to do, they often think of Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Isle of Sky. But, if I’m being honest, my favourite city in Scotland is actually Stirling.
You can read all about my adventures the first time I ever travelled in one of my earlier blogs!
There were so many things I loved about Stirling; the quietness, the unhurried atmosphere, the feelings of safety and freedom (probably from it being the first place I had ever really travelled to) but it also has some incredibly beautiful historic sites just like you’d find in Edinburgh.
So, here are the 5 best (in my opinion) things to do in Stirling, Scotland:
Stirling Castle
Inside Stirling Castle with a view of Queen Anne’s Garden (Adobe Stock Photo)Okay, duh, I know, but it had to make the list. Stirling Castle, while it may not be as well-known as Edinburgh Castle, is a beautiful castle known for being the place where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in 1543. I have been to visit this castle 4 (or 5) times now and the fiction novel I’m writing (if it ever gets finished) is based in Stirling and at Stirling Castle.
While a little bit smaller than Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle is still a large and fully intact castle that you can visit. It does get busy during tourist season but not nearly as busy as Edinburgh Castle. If you’re hoping for less of a crowd, I would suggest going when it rains. Let’s be honest, rain is Scotland’s natural climate and I feel, if you’re hoping for an authentic Scotland feel, you should embrace the rain. But, rain does often draw tourists away, so if you can handle it, then I highly recommend it.
It’s less than £20 pounds to visit and you can get an explorer pass to save and visit other landmarks as well!
2. The Old Stirling Bridge
The Old Stirling Bridge (Photo by Photos By Dave)I’ve mentioned this bridge before and I have told my story in the blog linked above! You can go check it out if you’re interested!
I think this bridge is the most beautiful bridge I’ve ever seen. With a rich history. Here is an overview written by Historic Environment Scotland:
The present Stirling Old Bridge was built in the 1400s or 1500s, replacing a succession of timber bridges. Undoubtedly the best-known of these was one that stood nearby in the 1290s, when Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Moray defeated Edward I’s forces at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.
The bridge also played a part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, when an arch was removed to forestall Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces as they marched south. The bridge today remains one of the best medieval masonry arch bridges in Scotland.
This bridge is a quick walk from Stirling Castle. It’s a pedestrian-only bridge and if you’re walking to the Wallace Monument, then this is where you’ll cross. It’s free to go to and I highly recommend reading the plate in front to learn more about the history!
3. Old Town
Entrance to the start of the Old Town Stirling Walking TourOld Town was fun! I explored this by myself and got to take my time looking at all of the buildings that are part of the “Old Town” of Stirling. If you go and explore by yourself, then this is free to do! I believe they have tours you can take, especially if you’re hoping to learn more about the sites but I took a travel book and learned on my own.
Included in Old Town are sites like the Old Town Jail, the Church of the Holy Rude and Graveyard, Argyll’s Lodging, The Tolbooth, etc. There is lots to do and if you take your time, this can take an entire day!
4. The Wallace Monument
View of the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland from iStockThere are some great monuments in Scotland and the Wallace Monument should be on that list. What I preferred about this one over the Scot Monument in Edinburgh was that it didn’t get too skinny at the top that people had a hard time going up and down.
The Wallace Monument was opened in 1869 and was built to honour William Wallace, who was instrumental in bringing the Scots the victory they had at the Battle Of Stirling Bridge. This monument took 8 years to complete but talk of the monument started in 1818.
The monument is 246 steps to the top and the view is stunning! You can see the Wallace Monument in the distance from many landmarks around the town including Stirling Castle and the Old Stirling Bridge (the place where my husband proposed and many of our photos have the monument in the background).
5. The Beheading Stone
Sarah standing in front of the Beheading Stone (Photo taken on early 2000s digital camera)Stay with me here… I know this is not on most top lists but this is definitely worth the trek.
When I was taking my tour of Old Town one of the things listed was the Beheading Stone. So, I set out to find it. But this was 2014 so I didn’t have my phone and Google Maps to rely on. I had that travel guide you see in my hands with a small map.
It took me hours to actually find this when I’m pretty confident it was only a short walk from the Church of the Holy Rude Graveyard that I started at. But because of this, I actually got to see a lot of really great sites around Stirling (many of which I have since added to my book). I almost gave up but then I finally found it (don’t ask me how! I don’t think I could find that route again if I tried). When I did, I discovered, it was literally just a rock. But the view was amazing!
You pretty much could see all of Old Town and most of Stirling. I ended up having a wonderful chat with an older Scottish woman (who took this photo for me) and it ended up being one of my favourite parts.
It’s free to see and if you somehow take the crazy route I took, you’ll also get a great little hike in!
Stirling has some wonderful and memorable sites that make it well worth the visit. It’s only a short train ride from Glasgow and if you’re looking for something a little slower, this is where I’d recommend going.
But shh, don’t tell your friends and make it super busy. This is just between us!
I also made a YouTube video about my time in Stirling! Go check it out and give me some love!
