Central Scotland - Scotland - page 372

Old Town
Below the castle, the steep Old Town has a remarkably different feel to modern Stirling,
its cobblestone streets packed with 15th- to 17th-century architectural gems. Its growth
began when Stirling became a royal burgh (about 1124), and in the 15th and 16th centur-
ies rich merchants built their houses here.
Stirling has the best surviving town wall in Scotland. It was built around 1547 when
Henry VIII of England began the 'Rough Wooing' - attacking the town in order to force
Mary, Queen of Scots, to marry his son so the two kingdoms could be united. The wall
can be explored on the Back Walk , which follows the line of the wall from Dumbarton
Rd to the castle. You pass the town cemeteries (check out the Star Pyramid , an outsized
affirmation of Reformation values dating from 1863), then the path continues around the
back of the castle to Gowan Hill, where you can see the Beheading Stone Offline map
Google map , now encased in iron bars to prevent contemporary use.
Mar's Wark Offline map Google map , on Castle Wynd at the head of the Old Town, is
the ornate facade of a Renaissance town house commissioned in 1569 by the wealthy Earl
of Mar, regent of Scotland during James VI's minority.
The Church of the Holy Rude Offline map Google map ( www.holyrude.org ; St John St;
admission free; 11am-4pm May-Sep) has been the town's parish church for 600 years
and James VI was crowned here in 1567. The nave and tower date from 1456, and the
church has one of the few surviving medieval open-timber roofs. Stunning stained-glass
windows and huge stone pillars create a powerful effect.
Behind the church is Cowane's Hospital Offline map Google map (49 St John St; admis-
sion free; 10.30am-3.30pm Apr-Oct) , built as an alms-house in 1637 by the merchant
John Cowane. The high vaulted hall was much modified in the 19th century.
The Mercat Cross Offline map Google map , in Broad St, is topped with a unicorn (known
as 'The Puggie') and was once surrounded by a bustling market. Nearby is the Tolbooth
Offline map Google map , built in 1705 as the town's administrative centre and renovated in
2001 to become an arts venue.
The Old Town Jail Offline map Google map ( www.oldtownjail.com ; St John St; adult/
child £6.75/4.25; 10am-5pm Apr-Oct) is a great one for kids, as actors take you
through the complex, portraying a cast of characters who illustrate the hardships of
Victorian prison life in innovative, entertaining style.

HISTORIC DISTRICT

National Wallace Monument

MONUMENT