Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the rag-tag band of Scots led by William Wallace (forever immortalized—if fictional-
ized—in the movie
Braveheart
). High on a nearby hill north of the city center stands
the prominent
Wallace Monument
(
&
01786/472-140;
www.nationalwallace
monument.com), which is open daily; admission is £7.50 for adults, £6 for seniors
and students, £4.50 for children, and £20 for families. On summer weekends, the
story of Wallace is reenacted in costumed dress.
Just outside of the city to the south is another famous battleground:
Bannock-
burn.
In these fields, a well-armed English-led force was nevertheless routed by
Scottish troops led by King Robert the Bruce in 1314. A heritage center operated by
the National Trust for Scotland is open daily March through October; admission is
£5.50 for adults, £4.50 for seniors, students, and children, and £15 family.
Northwest of Stirling are the
Trossachs,
a mountain range distinct from the
Highlands—appealing for its wooded forests. Two villages that provide gateways to
the more mountainous regions north are Callander and Aberfoyle. They can be over-
run by bus tours in the high season but offer places to rest, eat, and shop during
the day.
First ScotRail trains run frequently to Stirling from Glasgow's Queen Street Sta-
tion. The same-day standard round-trip fare is about £10 and takes 30 to 45 minutes
depending on the train and the number of stops it has to make in between.
Doune Castle
Fans of the comedy film
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975) may recognize the exterior of Doune Castle, as it served as a location for
several scenes. Visitors (especially those with a good imagination) can get an idea of
what living here in the 14th century may have been like. Though unfurnished, the
building has low doors, narrow spiral stairs, and a feeling of damp that presumably
was part of medieval life. Visitors can clamber through most of the edifice.
Doune, 6.5km (10 miles) northwest of Stirling off the A84.
&
01786/841-742.
www.historic-scotland.
gov.uk. £4.20 adults, £3.40 seniors, £2.50 children. AE, MC, V. Apr-Sept daily 9:30am-5:30pm; Oct-Mar
daily 9:30am-4:30pm.
Old Town Jail
On tours of this Victorian prison, the guides don historic garb,
taking you through the paces of penal life here as actors role-play as wardens and
inmates. In 1847, this “gaol” replaced a less humane one (condemned as the worst
in Britain) across the street in the Tolbooth. Still, a rack-like device hints that penal
life was hard. Last admission is 1 hour before closing.
St. John St.
&
01786/450-050.
Guided tours £6.50 adults, seniors £5, £4 children, £17 family. MC, V.
Apr-Oct daily 9:30am-5pm (4pm in Oct); Nov-Mar daily 10am-3pm.
Stirling Castle
Even if you don't venture inside the walls of this impressive
castle, the ramparts and grounds surrounding the well-fortified landmark are impres-
sive, particularly the cemetery and the “Back Walk” along a defensive wall. In the
castle proper, arguably the grandest in the land, there is a lot of work ongoing to
return the buildings to their historic condition (all explained in a museum). High-
lights include the Chapel Royal, which was remodeled by James VI (James I of
England). Tapestries are being hand-woven in the former stable block to hang in the
chapel, and on most days you can watch the intricate process. Quite recently
restored, the castle's Great Hall stands out for miles thanks to the creamy, almost
yellow exterior that replicates its original color. From Easter 2011, visitors will be
allowed to enter the royal Renaissance-era palace of James V. It has six apartments,
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