Stirling has played an important role in the history of Scotland, especially during vitally important moments. In and around Stirling has an incredible number of spectacular tourist attractions and a multitude of photo opportunities. In the following article I provide information about 3 places to visit in Stirling; Argyll’s Lodging, Stirling Castle and Stirling Old Town Jail:

Stirling Castle

Sat 250 feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on 3 sides by shear cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is incredibly important in the history of Scotland, there have been several coronations within the castle, including that of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. The castle was also witness to a shocking murder in 1452. The eighth Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. Stirling Castle is the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, unfortunately no longer stationed there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is situated in the castle.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail of today is not the original jail, for four hundred years, Stirling’s prisoners were held in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was terribly overcrowded, and smelt foul, with 24 prisoners to a cell, and no toilet facilities. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, due to the awful living conditions there, and in 1847 the current jail was opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial prison, 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 renovated in the 1990’s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled elevator that rises to a viewing platform at the very top of the jail. From this superb vantage point you is able to look out across the Forth Valley, and soak in the atmosphere of the Highland mountains.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging is found on Castle Wynd, located in the middle of Stirling and is Scotland’s finest surviving renaissance mansion. The mansion 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 1st Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was added to by the ninth Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, drawing room, bed chamber and laigh hall, have all been furnished and restored, as they would have been when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.

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