Stirling and its Castle

No trip to the “Top o’the Toon” could be complete without a visit to the castle. I love visiting these ancient monuments to our past history and think the entrance fee worth it as it ensures these monuments are preserved forever. Of course, because I’m a resident of Stirling, its even better value as I get in for free.

Stirling is surrounded by the history of our national hero’s. The view from the castle esplanade looks towards the Wallace monument built in 1860 high on the Abbey Craigs. Stirling Auld brig is in the foreground and is not far from the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297



Robert The Bruce, another of Scotland’s heroes also stands on the Castle Esplanade looking towards Wallace’s work.



The Palace buildings within Stirling Castle (to the left in this photo) were built around 1540. The Forework Gate (In the centre of the photo) was constructed around 1500. And the great Hall ( The light coloured building to the right in the photo) was built around 1503.



The cannon batteries were added to the defence of the castle during the Jacobite uprisings around 300 years ago





Today the castle was plastered in ice and snow. A reminder of how cold those huge halls must have been in mid winter long ago. I guess our ancestors were far harder than us. I doubt the common people of old, got heating allowances from the Palace and its government.