Stirling Castle has been named Scotland’s best visitor attraction at the inaugural 2016 Scottish and Outdoor Leisure Awards. The castle, which attracts about 460,000 visitors per year, beat competitors including Edinburgh Zoo and Dynamic Earth.
The castle’s executive manager Liz Grant said winning the award was a “wonderful achievement”. She said: “Scotland’s heritage attractions, such as Stirling Castle, form an important part of the country’s wider tourism and leisure offering and it’s great to see this recognised. “This accolade is made doubly special as it is initially voted for by members of the public and our visitors.” If you go into the Great Hall you can take a seat at the top table and picture yourself as the King or Queen of Scotland . ‘ So let us pass … to the ports of Sterling ; where stands a beautiful and embellished Castle, elevated on the precipice of an impregnable rock , that commands the vallies ( as well as the town ) and all those habitable parts about it … ‘- Richard Franck , Northern Memoirs , 1656 Stirling Castle is built on the volcanic rock high above the town. From the castle you can see Stirling Bridge and the Wallace Monument. How much would a taxi cost from Edinburgh Airport to Stirling Castle ? Sample fares –Pick up point : Edinburgh Airport
Destination : Stirling Castle
Journey time : 45 minutes
Fare : £50
Pick up point : Edinburgh Airport
Destination : The Kelpies
Journey time : 35 minutes
Fare : £38
It has been said that whoever controlled Stirling castle controlled Scotland because of its strategic position.A Roman Fort, built on castle rock, was replaced by a new castle at the command of King Alexander I.At the end of the 13th century the castle was rebuilt in stone , because of its strategic importance and the protection it offered. In 1297 the Scottish forces of William Wallace gathered at Stirling Bridge , in front of the castle ,and overcame the English in the most notorious defeat ever suffered by an English army. In 1313 Edward Bruce (brother of the would-be Scottish King) blockaded the fortress and forced King Edward II to meet King Robert The Bruce’s forces at Bannockburn. The heavily outnumbered Scottish forces inflicted a stunning defeat upon the English and the castle was surrendered to King Robert. In 1452 Stirling was the site of the murder of William, 8th Earl of Douglas by King James II. A stained glass window bearing the Douglas Arms now overlooks “Douglas Garden.” On the 9th of September 1543, the infant Mary , Queen of Scots , born in nearby Linlithgow Palace ,was crowned in the chapel royal at Stirling. There are supposed to be over 1000 ghosts in Stirling Castle , the most famous of all being the Green Lady. Book airport taxis Stirling on 07576-127097 . View our 360 photo of Stirling Castle . Stirling Castle gifts including prints t-shirts, mugs , posters and phone cases , can be bought online at Redbubble .