Stirling Castle

Sitting high on a volcanic rock, which was formed c.350 million years BC and, like Edinburgh Castle, can be seen for miles around. It also offers outstanding views of the surrounding area - such as the Ochil Hills and the Wallace Monument to the northeast.

The land to the west used to consist mainly of marshes which made the castle a place where movement through central Scotland. For this reason it has been likened to a huge brooch clasping Highlands and Lowlands together.

A castle has stood on this location since at least the 12th century. Although evidence of earlier forts have been found on other hills in the area, there is no evidence of any existing here. (See the chronology for more details.)

The current buildings date from the from the 15th and 16th centuries - during the reigns of James IV, V and VI. It was adapted to military use after James VI became James I of England in 1603, but many of the buildings have survived (see castle layout and chronology for more details).

The regiment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders used the castle as a base from 1881. Barrack rooms were provided by inserting floors and walls into the Great Hall. A memorial (left) was to this regiment was added to the esplanade.

The castle was to become home to varying numbers of soldiers from this point and was continuously adapted to meet their needs (including the addition of some new buildings such as the Main Guard House and Fort Major's House in the Outer Close and the Magazines in the Nether Bailey).

After 1946 the castle was no longer a depot for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

The castle is now owned by Historic Scotland.

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