Stirling Castle and Old Town Tour with Entry Included

This small-group tour combines two experiences in one: a guided walk through Stirling's historic Old Town and a guided visit inside Stirling Castle, with admission included.

You will learn why Stirling played such an important role in Scottish history as you walk through its medieval streets, its cemetery and its historic landmarks before entering one of the country's great royal castles. The tour tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was crowned at Stirling Castle, and the struggles that shaped medieval Scotland, from William Wallace and the Battle of Stirling Bridge to Robert the Bruce and Bannockburn, the history behind some of the legends made famous by the film Braveheart.

The tour starts next to the Athenaeum building on King Street, passes Broad Street, the commercial and administrative center of the medieval burgh, with a market since the 13th century, and heads uphill towards the castle. Along the way, the guide explains how crime and punishment changed in Stirling during the 19th century through the story of the Old Town Jail, and passes the historic Tolbooth, once at the heart of the city's civic life, justice and local government. You will see the ruins of Mar's Wark, one of Stirling's finest Renaissance buildings, and learn about its connection with the powerful Earl of Mar and the royal court in the 16th century. You will also see Cowane's Hospital, founded in the 17th century through the legacy of the merchant John Cowane, which shows the role of the city's merchant community.

The walk continues to the Church of the Holy Rude, one of Stirling's most important historic churches, closely linked to the Scottish monarchy; the guide explains its royal associations, including the coronation of the young James VI in 1567. The Tolbooth, the Old Town Jail, Cowane's Hospital and the church are seen from the outside only. In the Old Town Cemetery, the guide explains some of its most important monuments, including the Star Pyramid and the Martyrs' Monument, and the stories connected with the Covenanters.

The tour continues inside Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's most important royal strongholds, with your guide. You will learn about its connections with the Stewart monarchy, Mary, Queen of Scots and the Wars of Independence while seeing the royal palace, the Great Hall and the castle's defensive position above Stirling.