Today we made our drive north into the Highlands. On the way we stopped at Stirling Castle, which is about an hour's drive west of Edinburgh. The castle is perched high atop a volcanic crag, which gave it a terrific strategic position (along with great views on our crystal-clear day!). "He who holds Stirling, holds Scotland."
Many important battles happened in the Stirling valley, as it was the northernmost place to cross the River Forth and was thus the gateway to the Highlands. In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, Scotland was battling for independence after a hostile takeover by the English. Though greatly outnumbered, William Wallace led Scottish forces to defeat English armies at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. Robert the Bruce became King of Scots in 1306. In 1314, in the Battle of Bannockburn, Bruce retook the English-occupied Stirling Castle.
Most of the structures still standing today were built in the 1400s and 1500s. James V (father of Mary Queen of Scots) built the royal palaces, and they were the preferred Scottish royal residence for centuries. They were refurbished in 2011.
Statue of Robert the Bruce
William Wallace monument, overlooking Stirling Bridge
Highland mountains in the distance
In the Queen's quarters
Recreated tapestry showing unicorn scenes
Carved wooden heads of important figures that lined
the King's quarters in the palace during James VI reign.
There were 60 of them; many originals survive.
Walking the defensive walls
Robert the Bruce, surveying the land with
the William Wallace monument behind
Church of the Holy Rude, where infant James VI was
made King of Scots, after a sermon by John Knox
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