The city of Stirling has played an important role in the history of Scotland, especially during vitally important moments. In and around Stirling has an amazing number of excellent tourist attractions and a multitude of monuments and places to photograph. In the following article I introduce three places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Castle, Stirling Old Town Jail and Argyll’s Lodging:

Stirling Castle

Standing guard, 250 feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is incredibly important in Scotland’s history, there have been several coronations within the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots’ in 1543. Stirling Castle was also witness to a violent murder in 1452. The 8th Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. Stirling Castle is home to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, unfortunately no longer stationed at the castle. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, can be found in the castle.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail we see today was not the first jail in Stirling, for 400 years, Stirling’s prisoners were committed in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was dreadfully overcrowded, and smelt dreadful, with 24 prisoners to a cell, and zero sanitation. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, because of the fearful 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 prison in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a visitor attraction, and was only restored in the 1990′s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled lift that transports one to a viewing platform at the top of the jail. From commanding viewpoint you is able to gaze out across the Forth Valley, and catch a glimpse of the Highland mountains.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging can be found on Castle Wynd, located in the center of Stirling and is Scotland’s best existing renaissance house. The house was erected around 1630, by Sir William Alexander, founder of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who became Secretary of State for Scotland, and was then appointed the first Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging passed to the Argyll family on his death and was further extended by the 9th Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the laigh hall, bed chamber, drawing room and dining room, have all been carefully furnished and restored, as they would have looked when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.

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