Stirling Castle is one of the largest, most important and spectacularly located castles in Scotland. This walk takes in the old heart of the city and follows paths across its hills; it is packed with history and the views are superb.
Bog Factor
Good paths and pavements; fair amount of ascent.
Stirling City Centre / rail station.
Bus or train to Stirling.
NS797935
This walk begins in the centre of Stirling; if arriving by train head out of the station across the roundabout and Station Road, then turn left through the city centre and the next right onto King Street. The tall clocktower of the Athenium is reached at the top end of the street. The impressive porch on the front of the tower is crowned by the 'Wee Wallace' - a statue of the warrior hero. Pass to the left of the tower and turn left, crossing the road to reach the impressive turretted building with clocktower. Turn right past this onto a cobbled road past the statue of Stirling MP - and sometime Prime Minister - Campbell-Bannerman.
Keep straight ahead with the old City Wall on the right. The walkway - known as the Upper Back Walk - rises gently across the side of the crag-and-tail formation that is crowned by the castle. Keep straight ahead at a four-way junction, still climbing gently. Passing the entrance to the Erskine Church, and then Cowane's Hospital - a seventeenth century almshouse that has replaced part of the walls. There is a signed junction just beyond this; the walk continues straight ahead ('Castle'), still climbing gently, now alongside an old churchyard. At the far end of this bear left to continue to the left of a stone wall (signposted Gowanhill) rather than heading into the old town. The walls of the castle are now visible ahead, high above the path on the right.
There are superb views across the plains towards the mountains of the Highlands, with peaks such as Ben Lomond and Ben Ledi prominent on the horizon if the day is clear. The path continues contouring round beneath the castle and bears round to the right at the far end of the crag. Continue straight across a stepped path to reach a minor road, and go straight across this onto the path that continues opposite (still signposted for Gowanhill).
At another signed junction go straight ahead (signed Mote hill), ignoring the turn on the right which you will return to take later, and then ahead again at the next junction, ignoring the steps down on the left. When the path forks take the left branch uphill, which soon leads to the summit of Mote hill. Here are two old cannons and the 'Beheading Stone' - formerly used in executions. There is also a bench, giving ample opportunity to enjoy the superb views over towards the Wallace Monument, Dumyat and the Ochils. Retrace your steps back past the top of the steps to return to the Gowanhill junction.
Now turn left - signed for Upper Castlehill. Stay on the surfaced path as it climbs gently and then descends to a bench. Here take the right fork (still lightly surfaced with tarmac) and stay on the main path as it climbs and swings round to the left. It soon comes alongside a stone wall and then passes through it at a gap with three steps. The views from here are superb. Cross the paved path across the lower end of a burial ground, passing through the wall on the far side and then bearing right around a grassy terrace, with the castle battlements high above.
At the far end of the terrace turn left on the road directly below the castle, then taking a small path on the right opposite the road junction. This climbs up to the cobbled entrance to the castle car park. Turn right to see the statue of Robert the Bruce, and perhaps Scotland's most magnificent castle. After exploring, head across to the opposite end of the car park and descend the steps, turning right along the cobbled street. The impressive medieval building on the left side is Argyll's Lodging - which can be visited on the same ticket as the castle. Pass this and keep right at the fork.
On the right is the Church of Holy Rude, a fine medieval building, whilst over to the left the clocktower crowns the Tolbooth (which fronts onto another street). Continue down the road with many ancient buildings, including the jail - now a museum - on the right. It soon leads back down to the Athenium and the city centre.
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