Visiting Stirling

Stirling can be a day trip from Edinburgh. There are more than a few things to see if you know your Scottish History. We actually stayed in a Cottage style BnB in the part of town near the Wallace Monument. Stirling to Inverness is over 3 hrs if you go straight thru. If driving, you'd want to tour on your way. There is a night train. Some of the historic sites in countryside locations may be closed in November as daylight hrs are short at this latitude. Unless you have to see Culloden I would just spend more time nearer Glasgow and Edinburgh...there are lots of things to do and cultural events to see near the cities. Where are you planning to go fm 10/11-10/20? There are also lots to see south of Glasgow and Edinburgh. New Lanark a World Heritage site is an interesting place to visit and you can also stay there.

Stirling is not very big and easily done in one leisurely day. Very easy to daytrip from Edinburgh. After Stirling Castle make sure to see the Holy Rude church next door.

Thanks, Kathleen, for your reply. We arrive in Edinburgh on 10/11 and will spend 3 nights there. Then renting a car and driving to Cladich Farms near Inverary. Taking a tour of their cattle farm/ranch!!!!! Spending 1 night at the Cladich B&B and then driving to Glencoe and spending 2 nights. Driving to Isle of Skye and spending 3 nights in Portree. Then leaving Portree on 10/20 and driving to Inverness. Does that sound ok to you??

Thanks for your suggestion, Mary!!

In July we stayed in Inverness for several days and had a wonderful visit to Dunrobin Castle, about 50 miles from Inverness. The castle is completely furnished and the gardens are impressive. The falconry demonstrations (2 per day) were a highlight of the day (try to get a front-row seat). https://www.dunrobincastle.co.uk/index.html

Hi, Carole - Thanks so much for the suggestion to visit Dunobin Castle. That sounds great. We love birds, so we’ll definitely include that on our list!!!

Robyn, here is a post with a list of many sites at Stirling that has some ideas for Stirling. I had posted this question before I left back in May. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/visiting-stirling-castle-and-the-town

And here is a segment from my trip report that deals with Stirling that might help:

Stirling Castle: This was one of my favorite places in the area and I am so glad I went. It was easy to get to, involving a quick walk to the Queen Street station and a fast 30 minute train ride to Stirling. You must buy a ticket before you can get on the train, though, as they have turnstiles you have to go through and you use your ticket to open them. And hang onto the ticket, as you will need it again when you exit.

When I got to the Stirling train station, I opted to walk up to Stirling Castle. In hindsight, I don’t know that I would’ve done that again as it was very steep and you can take the bus or a cab. But I did get some beautiful views walking up. I planned on buying a membership to Historic Scotland at the site, but booked my time slot online. There’s a way you can do it if you are a member so you don’t have to pay. So I got in line, showed them my booking confirmation, and then paid for the membership.

Make sure that you take one of the free guided tours. There’s one every hour starting at 10 am and they are wonderful. Our guide was named Brian and he was so knowledgeable and very funny. It was a great way to understand the castle.

After leaving the castle, I walked down into the town, stopping at the Holy Rude church, and a few other places. I also stopped at the Darnley Coffee House, which is located in the house that Lord Darnley, who was married to Mary Queen of Scots, lived in. I highly recommend this place. When I was there, the room was filled with locals, and we all started talking. They were asking me lots of questions about the states and about my travels, and why I was traveling alone and so on. But they said they all come here a lot because they like it. The food was very good, and the building itself is pretty cool.

If you have clear weather while you are in Skye take advantage of the darkness at night for spectacular Milky Way Galaxy of Stars. A friend of mine knows how to use her camera and got fantastic stop motion images.

Hi, Mardee! Thanks much for your post about visiting Stirling. Enjoyed all the info you included in your trip report. :-)

Hey, Kathleen- What a great idea about viewing the Milky Way while we're in Skye. Hopefully, we'll have some clear weather when we're there! Thanks much for your great idea!

Robyn, I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip! Scotland is wonderful! Where else are you going?

Mardee, do I understand correctly that you paid for your Stirling Castle tickets when booking a timeslot, then had to pay the full Historic Scotland Membership when you got there? Did you check regular/concession ticket or HSM?

@ CanAmCherie
Check the booking form on the website. If you have Historic Scotland Membership or an Explorer pass, then you select this ticket option and don't have to pay. Then do as Mardee says " showed them my booking confirmation, and then paid for the membership."

I'm feeling dense...so I check the HSM box even though I haven't gotten it yet, then I go to the window as if I need to buy a ticket, but I pay for the HSM?

That's correct.

Click on this link Then click on the Standard Admission, Member and Explorer pass tickets. This takes you to this website. Select Historic Scotland Member to book your ticket(s). You don't pay anything at this point.

When you arrive, go to the ticket office and ask to buy Historic Scotland Membership. You will need this to get entry when you show your ticket.

Thank you!

Cherie, yes, exactly as wasleys says. You can find a bit more details in a post earlier this year (see below). Very easy and simple. There is also information on later after I went home. Since I am returning to the UK in the spring, my membership will still be valid and I wanted to be able to use it. But I didn't have a card because I bought the membership at Stirling, so I was able to get a digital membership card that is on the HS app. Very easy and convenient! And it also allows me access to many English Heritage sites while I am in England next year.

ETA: I forgot to mention that I did get the Concessions (senior) rate.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland/purchasing-a-historic-scotland-membership-and-booking-sites

Great, Mardee, yes, we'll get the year-long membership. I was trying to convince my husband that we should get the lifetime...no deal.

Great, Mardee, yes, we'll get the year-long membership. I was trying to convince my husband that we should get the lifetime...no deal.

Ha ha!!! But I will tell you that one extra little benefit is that whenever you use your membership pass to enter a place, you are always thanked for being a member. The employees really appreciate that travelers take the extra step to support their organization. It always made me feel good.

If you have not driven single track roads in Scotland before, be sure to watch some YouTube videos and research the etiquette. The scenic roads on Skye are spectacular and terrifying! (The main road to Portree is fine.) if you can do a day tour, you can learn a lot just watching the driver. Plus you can see more stuff when someone else is driving!

I loved Stirling! Definitely hit up the Curly Coo Bar. The owner knows and loves her whiskey and there are bottles everywhere haha! Stirling Distillery has some some of the best gin I've ever had, so get a tasting there! The Wallace Monument surprised me, wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.