Weekend City Breaks In Stirling And A Selection Of Captivating Places You Must See
Stirling has played an important role in Scotland’s history, especially during important moments. In and around Stirling has a fantastic number of spectacular tourist attractions and a multitude of places and monuments to photograph. In the following article I provide details of three places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Castle, Stirling Old Town Jail and Argyll’s Lodging:
Stirling Castle
Situated 250 feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is very important in the history of Scotland, there have been many coronations in the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots coronation in 1543. Stirling Castle was also witness to a shocking murder in 1452. The 8th Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. Stirling Castle is home to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, even though they are, unfortunately no longer garrisoned there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, is situated in the castle.
Stirling Old Town Jail
The Stirling Old Town Jail we see today was not the first jail in Stirling, for 400 years, Stirling’s prisoners were held in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was dreadfully overcrowded, and smelt vile, with 24 prisoners in each cell, and zero sanitation. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, due to the inhuman living conditions there, and in 1847 the current jail was opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial prison, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military prison in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a visitor attraction, and was only renovated in the 1990’s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled elevator that transports one to a viewing deck at the very top of the jail. From this superb spot one can gaze out across the Forth Valley, and take in the spectacular view of the Highland mountains.
Argyll’s Lodging
Argyll’s Lodging can be found on Castle Wynd, located in the center of Stirling and is Scotland’s best surviving renaissance house. The mansion was built around 1630, by Sir William Alexander, founder of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, and then became the 1st Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging passed to the Argyll family on his death and was further extended by the 9th Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, laigh hall, bed chamber and drawing room, have all been sympathetically furnished and restored, as they would have looked when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.
If you are thinking about a weekend break in Stirling you will discover plenty of online Stirling hotels and guest houses and you will find a massive selection at http://stirling.hotelreservationhelper.com/
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