• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Truly Edinburgh

A visitor guide to Edinburgh and beyond

  • Home
  • Site Index
  • Blog
  • Edinburgh
  • Whisky
  • Gin distilleries
  • History of Scotland
    • Castles of Scotland
    • Early Kings & Queens
    • Famous Scots
  • About

Day Trip from Edinburgh to Stirling

May 30, 2022

The city of Stirling is strategically placed between Glasgow and Edinburgh


Visit Stirling on a day trip from Edinburgh

Although there are plenty of guided tours from Edinburgh to Stirling on offer, getting there and many other parts of the country on your own is very easy. So take a day trip from Edinburgh and explore the best of Scotland.

The city of Stirling is strategically placed between Glasgow and Edinburgh and is often considered the gateway to the Scottish Highlands which makes it a great base for further exploration.

Getting to Stirling from Edinburgh

There are frequent buses from Edinburgh Bus Station to Stirling – journey time is around one hour 30 minutes. If you prefer the train, the journey time from Edinburgh Waverley to Stirling is less than an hour for most trains.

The town centre and the majority of historic attractions are within a few minutes’ walk from the bus and railway stations.

Butif you’re heading for Bannockburn it’s about three miles and the Wallace Monument is a little more than that. There are plenty of local buses or taxis if you don’t fancy the walk.

Take a day trip from Edinburgh to Stirling

The modern bustling (lower) town centre is popular with both locals and the many thousands of people who visit each year. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, shops and a number of hotels and guest houses if you want to stay a bit longer in this fascinating city.

Stirling is a city with a castle at its heart, forever linked to Robert the Bruce and his victory over an English army at the Battle of Bannockburn and William Wallace and his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

Stirling Castle

It’s the Old Town, known locally as the Top of the Town, much of it medieval in origin, that draws the visitors.

The star attraction is the spectacular Stirling Castle. it’s not the original building, accurate dating of that is difficult; however, records show the endowment of a castle chapel by Alexander I between 1107 and 1115. King David I granted Stirling Royal Burgh status in 1124.

The magnificent Royal Palace, which stands within the castle complex is well worth seeing.

Church of the Holy Rude

Church Holy rude stirling
Church of the Holy Rude

There are also a number of important buildings clustered around the castle which are well worth visiting. Top of many lists is the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling’s original parish church used for the coronation of James VI.

Today the building is still a fully functioning place of worship with a Church of Scotland congregation. It remains, alongside Westminster Abbey in London, the only church still in active use, to have hosted a coronation.

Mar’s Wark

Worth exploring are the remains of Mar’s Wark which face Broad Street, so named because during the early 18th century Stirling council had plans to turn the building into a workhouse. Originally the building belonged to the Earl of Mar, Guardian of the young James VI.

Mar’s Wark

Cowane’s Hospital

Originally built by wealthy Stirling merchant and Dean of the Merchant Guild John Cowane as an alms house, the building has over the years been used for a variety of purposes.

Darnley’s House

At the foot of Broad Street is Darnley’s House thought to be the place where Lord Darnley stayed when visiting Mary Queen of Scots.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging, a splendid 17th century townhouse, which lies just below the castle esplanade, is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. The oldest part of the present house dates to around the middle of the 16th century. However, the house lay empty until bought by the 9th Earl of Argyll whose main residence was in Inveraray.

Wallace Monument

Wallace Monument

The Wallace Monument stands proudly on top of the Abbey Craig, a rocky crag which lies close to the city of Stirling. 

It overlooks the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge where in 1297 the army of William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeated the forces of England’s king, Edward I. An exhibition in the Hall of Arms tells that story.

The Hall of Heroes, where Wallace’s sword is the centrepiece, tells the story of Wallace’s life and his role as Guardian of Scotland during the Wars of Independence.

The view from the Crown at the top is simply stunning (on a nice day).  If you’re lucky you can see as far as Ben Lomond and the Trossachs in the west and Stirling Castle and the Ochil Hills to the east.

Battle of Bannockburn Centre

Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn

This impressive centre, a National Trust for Scotland property (NTS) tells the story of the Scottish victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. By using 3D technology visitors can, “Stand shoulder to shoulder with medieval warriors and armoured knights while learning about the tactics of two opposing kings in a truly immersive experience.”

Smith Art Gallery and Museum

Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, which alongside its frequently changing exhibitions, offers visitors a detailed glimpse into Stirling’s often turbulent story, from prehistoric times to the present day.

Stirling tourist information

Stirling’s Visit Scotland tourist information centre is located at the Old Town Jail in St John’s Street and has information about all of Stirling’s visitor attractions. Alternatively, check out their website for details of all the places mentioned here.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Things to do in Edinburgh

Things to do in Edinburgh

Whisky shops in Edinburgh

whisky in Edinburgh

Scotland’s history

outside Edinburgh attractions

Famous Scots

Famous Scots

Kings and Queens of Scotland

Kings and Queens of Scotland

Copyright © 2022 · Truly Edinburgh · All Rights Reserved

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All


Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT