Return to Stirling Castle and the ‘Secret Stirling’ Tour
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Who doesn’t like to explore places that are usually off limits to the public or wonder what lies behind a door that says ‘private’? Well, that is exactly what you get to do on the ‘Secret Stirling’ tour at Stirling Castle. We are Historic Scotland members, so we have visited the Castle many times, but it was exciting to see some ‘behind the scenes’ spots. So, join us as we bring you on a wee ‘explore and discover’ tour of Stirling Castle!
We don’t want to give away too many spoilers of the ‘Secret Stirling’ tour, so we will just share a few (mostly photo) highlights in this article. The tour also brought us to places open to regular admission visitors, but it was fun to revisit ‘old’ favourites. In fact, we walked around the Castle before the start of our tour. Therefore, the photos in this article are mix of our self-guided exploration and the ‘Secret Stirling’ tour. Additionally, we have previously written about Stirling Castle before, so please check out that article for more general information and history.
When visiting Stirling Castle, be sure to look up and down for fascinating little details just waiting to be discovered. This advice applies before you even cross the bridge and officially enter the Castle.
One of the most picturesque places at Stirling Castle is the Queen Anne Gardens. This visit was at the beginning of April, so everything was just starting to bloom.
‘The Secret Stirling’ tour provides some unique perspectives with views from way down below to up high. The highlight of our tour was when we were able to walk on the roof of the Great Hall!
We also saw some intriguing details whose meanings are still a secret including this mysterious skull carved into a stone wall.
This wee room is rumoured to once have been the private oratory of Mary (Stuart), Queen of Scots.
Reminders of the Stewarts’/Stuarts’ reign can be found throughout Stirling Castle. There was even an intriguing Stuart connection that involved 16th century graffiti that you will just have to see for yourself on the tour.
As we mentioned earlier, take your time when exploring Stirling Castle for fun historical details inside and outside.
We hope you have enjoyed this wee look around Stirling Castle. If you are looking to experience Stirling Castle in a fun and unique way, we highly recommend their ‘Secret Stirling’ tour. However, keep in mind that Historic Scotland points out that each ‘Secret Stirling’ tour can be slightly different depending on the weather and conditions. Spaces are also limited on the tours, so booking is essential. We were able to get a 10% discount as Historic Scotland members. Be sure to visit the Historic Scotland website for more information.
Speaking of unique tours, if you happen to be planning a visit to Edinburgh, we recommend you book one of our entertaining Edinburgh walking tours. Sami, our human tour guide, would love to help you explore the history, myths, and legends of the ‘Athens of the North’. Our tours are particularly distinctive as Sami is joined by one of our Golden Retriever co-guides- Walter or Arthur.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
