Web City Travel

The city of Stirling has appeared throughout Scotland’s history, especially during vitally important moments. The city and surrounding area has an amazing number of superb tourist attractions and masses of photo opportunities. In the following article I discuss 3 places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Old Town Jail, Stirling Castle and Argyll’s Lodging:

Stirling Castle

Situated two hundred and fifty feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on three sides by shear cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is incredibly important in the history of Scotland, there have been many coronations at the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots’ in 1543. The castle was also witness to a shocking murder in 1452. The 8th Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. The castle is home to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, sadly no longer garrisoned there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is located inside the castle.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail of today is not the original jail, for 400 years, Stirling’s prisoners were held in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was shockingly overcrowded, and smelled dreadful, with 24 prisoners per cell, and no sanitation. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, due to the awful living conditions there, and in 1847 the new jail was opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial jail, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military jail in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a visitor attraction, and was only renovated in the 1990′s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled elevator that rises to a viewing platform at the top of the jail. From commanding viewpoint you is able to look out across the Forth Valley, and take in the spectacular view of the Highland mountains.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging is found on Castle Wynd, near the center of Stirling and is Scotland’s best existing renaissance mansion. The house was built circa 1630, by Sir William Alexander, originator of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, and then became the 1st Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was added to by the 9th Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, bed chamber, drawing room and laigh hall, have all been superbly restored and furnished, as they would have been when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.

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