Stirling Castle - Scotland 2017

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In my opinion, there's not a bad month to visit Scotland. Having said that, we've only experienced April, May, and now October so our opinions could be wrong. Maybe a cold highland winter will change my mind but I doubt it.

One of my favorite places is usually high on everyone's list - Stirling Castle. It's been around since the 1100s and has seen a lot of action. Mary Queen of Scots was coronated there in the 1500s, battles were fought there, Robert Burns (poet, farmer, author of "Auld Lang Syne"), scratched a window at Stirling with his famous Stirling Words:

Here Stewarts once in triumph reigned
And laws for Scotlands weal ordained
But unroofed their Palace stands
Their scepters fallen to other hands
Fallen indeed and to the earth
Whence grovelling reptiles take their birth
The injured Stewart line is gone
A race outlandish fill their throne
An idiot race, to honor lost
Who know them best despise them most

The castle ceased being a military post in the mid-1960s and now is open for all of us to enjoy.





I highly recommend joining one of the free guided tours!




I always love the doors. Each one is unique.


These windows in the Great Hall are even more stunning in person.


 In the late 1500s, James VI had Chapel Royal built for the baptism of his son Prince Henry.





A bird's eye view of River Forth from the castle. 


The Grand Battery was built during the first Jacobite rising in 1600s.




Bonnie Prince Charlie at it again.





This was our second visit to Stirling Castle. I would definitely recommend others make it a 'must' on their itinerary. Plan to spend at least two solid hours there. Don't forget to walk the wall in the very back while you enjoy the view!

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