Surgical Strike Day Trip: Stirling Castle

The Gateway to the Highlands, this castle is arguably the most important in the history of Scotland. It takes hours if not days to do Stirling, so it can be tricky to plan a day trip.

Fast Facts:

• Distance from Edinburgh: 42 miles
• Using public transport: 1 hour and 42 minutes
• History: Robert the Bruce ordered the castle defenses destroyed so the English could not take it again like every cool medieval defensive structure in Scotland, but it was rebuilt and many Scottish kings and queens were crowned there including Mary Queen of Scots
• What there is to do: explore the walls and the interiors, especially the ones redone to the era of Mary Queen of Scots' father, James V, and the workshops with tapestry-making and other arts and crafts. There are a lot of places to picnic and buy a cup of coffee!
• Website: http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/
• Other things to do in the area: 
• Argyll's Lodging is included in your Stirling Castle ticket
• church of the Holy Rude and chuchyard just on the other side of the car park wall to Stirling Castle are a great place to explore and/or picnic
• the Wallace Monument (but this is a separate ticket)
• Doune Castle is just a short bus ride away
• Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre and site

Tons of statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace all over Stirling

Pros:

• easy to get to on the train unless there are train works
• lots of history
• 'living history' spin with the reconstruction of the castle how it was supposed to be back in James V's era
• lots of helpful guides in costume
• 75% clean bathrooms
• picnic space
• easy access to coffee
• costumes for kids to dress up
• a lot of interactive learning opportunities
• there are also bugs at the castle, we learned, which was my toddler's favorite part

Cons:

• HUGE hill from train station to castle
• Wallace Monument is a good trek and can look like a quick excursion but can actually take all day
• a lot of Stirling is open to the elements
• rather pricey unless Historic Scotland member (29 pounds for two adults on a Saturday)

Timings:
8:30 leave the house for the bus stop
9:30 train to Stirling, 51 minutes
10:24 arrive in Stirling
11:00 arrive at the castle, picnic
11:30 run all around the castle
2:37 catch train home
3:32 arrive in Edinburgh - catch bus or taxi home
4:00 home - if anyone napped on way home they are in the clear for a 7 pm bedtime!

Spendings:

• £18.80 train tickets
• £29.00 castle tickets
• £2.50 coffee

Stirling Castle is one of our favorite castles in the UK and therefore the world. Its unique approach to reconstruction takes it back to its glorious past. It is the ideal place for history lovers and for children with tons of energy alike.