Great visit to Stirling Castle - part 1

Stirling Castle - Queen Anne Garden, Ramparts and Museum

Stirling Castle - 30 minutes from Appletree Cottage

On a glorious sunny day earlier this month we drove 30 minutes to Stirling to visit Stirling Castle.  Tickets were slightly cheaper to book online.  There is a small charge for the carpark when you arrive.

Entrance gate to Stirling Castle

Crossing the bridge over the former moat we entered this medieval castle which was formerly the capital of Scotland.  This was the birth place and residence of many Scottish kings before the Union of the Crowns in 1707 when Scottish King James VI went down to become James I of England.  The two countries from then on shared the monarchy.

Queen Anne Garden, Stirling Castle

Through an arch on your left as you enter the castle is the well-kept Queen Anne Garden which borders the Royal Palace.  Also in this area is an introductory exhibition explaining various facets and the history of the castle.

Inside the exhibition centre the walls are lined with the history of many people who have been associated with the castle and others who have lived in it.  From its early beginnings Stirling Castle has been a classic fortification.  
Like Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle sits majestically on top of an ancient volcano plug with the old town sloping off down to the east.
The castle has been the sight of many battles and changed hands several times before settling down into the home of the Scottish monarchy.
With great vantage points all round it was one of the most defensible locations in the Kingdom of Scotland.
There is a very good model of the castle in the exhibition centre giving a clear idea of the layout and of the various sections which have been added over the years.

Model of Stirling Castle in the Exhibition Centre

Leaving the museum and exhibition we return to the main arch and go through into the first courtyard.  Directly ahead of us is the ancient Great Hall, rendered in distinctive Royal Gold Harling as it would have been in the 1500s

Looking east from the Castle ramparts - we could just make out the towers of the new Forth Bridge

More spectacular views looking south across Kings Park and the golf course

After the viewing the exhibition we explored the ramparts just off the Queen Anne Garden.
The views to the east and to the south were fantastic.  Even though it was not the clearest of days we could make out the towers of the new Forth Bridge near Edinburgh.

The Great Hall in the lower square viewed through the entrance gate

After the East Ramparts and the Queen Anne Garden we made our way back through the arch and through the main entrance gate towards the lower square courtyard.  Ahead we can see the vividly painted Great Hall, recently hauled and painted to replicate its original colour "Kings Gold|". For more castle see part two of this blog...