Stirling Qualities by Lorraine Mace
Stirling, originally a Stone Age settlement and later occupied by
the Romans, is where many kings and queens of Scotland ruled and died. Always a
bustling town, it is Scotland’s newest city.
The castle, perched high on the cliff top above the city, has been
home to some of Scotland’s most famous, and infamous, figures. The infant son
of Mary, Queen of Scots, was housed there when he was crowned in the Holy Rood
Church as James the Sixth of Scotland, later to follow Elizabeth the First on
the throne of England, uniting the two crowns.
The church is one of only two surviving buildings in the United
Kingdom where a coronation has taken place. Westminster Abbey is the other.
From the castle ramparts, visitors can view seven battlefields,
all of which played a significant part in Scotland’s history, such as Stirling
Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314).
Below the castle, mediaeval buildings include churches, mansions
and public houses. There are special walks designed to ensure visitors don’t
miss any of the important sites. The Old Town Walk takes the same route as that
covered by kings and commoners alike when moving from the town to the castle.
This route was only changed in the 19th century when the city centre was developed.
The Black Walk follows the town’s 16th century walls, with purple plaques
giving details of the buildings of interest.
Near to the castle is the Old Town Jail, which was once a
Victorian reform prison - a place of misery, hardship and cruelty. This is now
an interesting and not to be missed tourist attraction.
Stirling is also home to many haunted buildings, most notably The
Settle Inn, scene of ghostly manifestations. But with so many battles and
murders taking place over the centuries, it’s not surprising that the ghosts
walk - and you can walk with them on an eerie night tour designed to take in
the spectral corners where spirits await.
There is even a mystery walk, where amateur sleuths can solve a
set of twenty clues on the Eye-Spy Stirling Trail.
No visitor to Stirling can be unaware of the part that William
Wallace played in the history of the Scottish nation. The National Wallace
Monument was erected in his honour. The tower is 220ft high and, from the top
of its 246 steps, views of the glorious Stirling countryside and beyond reward
those who make the climb.
Don’t miss the ruined Cambuskenneth Abbey situated nearby. This
was where Robert the Bruce held his Parliament in 1326 and is the burial place
of King James III.
The vibrant city centre has quality shops, restaurants and a
varied nightlife. But there is more to Stirling than the city itself. The
surrounding scenery is astoundingly beautiful. Why not walk through woodland
and along the river, taking in such sights as Stirling Old Bridge and the
Beheading Stone?
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