One of Scotland’s most iconic strongholds, Stirling Castle, has launched a new bespoke visitor experience: Secret Stirling Tours. Beginning today, the tours offer exclusive access to areas of the fortress usually closed to the public, revealing both hidden chambers and fascinating stories from centuries of history.
The daily guided tours, priced at £15 in addition to castle admission, will be limited to just 12 people and run at 11am and 2pm. Each tour will include around ten secret locations, with routes tailored to the weather and the accessibility of different spaces.
Exploring Hidden Spaces
Among the highlights are the wall walk around the Great Hall roof, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Stirling and its royal buildings, and the caponiers, firing galleries built in the 18th century to defend the castle with muskets. Another stop is the King’s Closet, a small chamber off the king’s bedchamber that may have been used as a private oratory for prayer. Historians believe Mary, Queen of Scots herself may have prayed here during her stays at Stirling.
The closet also connects to a narrow stairway leading to the upper palace, a private route reserved for monarchs like James VI, who could discreetly move between his chambers and those of his courtiers.
Other sites include the former Governor’s Kitchen, built in the 1700s. Archaeological excavations in 1997 revealed that this structure stood on the remains of a medieval chapel, complete with nine burials dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. Researchers believe the graves may include a 14th-century English knight killed during Scotland’s Wars of Independence and perhaps even Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox and grandfather of James VI.
Visitors can also follow the paths once used by servants carrying food from the castle’s vast 16th-century kitchens into the Great Hall, Scotland’s largest medieval banqueting hall. The tour even leads to the musicians’ gallery, where fanfares and performances once entertained the royal court.
One of the most intriguing stops is hidden in the Prince’s Tower, where 16th-century graffiti survives. Inscribed into the plaster of James VI’s former schoolroom is the name “James 6,” possibly the young king’s own hand.
Stirling Castle’s Place in History
Rising dramatically above the River Forth, Stirling Castle guarded the strategic crossing between Scotland’s Highlands and Lowlands, earning it the reputation of being the “Key to the Kingdom.” Its history stretches back to at least the 12th century, with Scotland’s kings and queens frequently using it as a royal residence. Stirling witnessed some of the most dramatic episodes in Scottish history, from the childhood coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543 to repeated English sieges during the Wars of Independence. The nearby Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) cemented its reputation as a symbol of Scottish resistance and triumph.
A Unique Visitor Experience
Secret Stirling Tour at Stirling Castle – photo courtesy Historic Environment Scotland
Ross Blevins, Interpretative Events and Guiding Manager at Stirling Castle, emphasised the rarity of these new tours:
“The stops on this new tour are usually under strict lock and key. Some of the areas have been closed for decades, while others have never before been open to the public, so it is truly a unique visitor experience and a chance to uncover some of the many secrets of Stirling Castle.”
Secret Stirling Tours are not suitable for visitors under 12, nor for those uncomfortable with heights or confined spaces. The route involves uneven ground, steep stairways, and narrow passages, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Tickets cost £15 on top of standard castle admission (£33.50 for adults, £30 concessions, £24 for children over 12). Members of Historic Scotland receive free admission and 10% off the tour ticket price.
One of Scotland’s most iconic strongholds, Stirling Castle, has launched a new bespoke visitor experience: Secret Stirling Tours. Beginning today, the tours offer exclusive access to areas of the fortress usually closed to the public, revealing both hidden chambers and fascinating stories from centuries of history.
The daily guided tours, priced at £15 in addition to castle admission, will be limited to just 12 people and run at 11am and 2pm. Each tour will include around ten secret locations, with routes tailored to the weather and the accessibility of different spaces.
Exploring Hidden Spaces
Among the highlights are the wall walk around the Great Hall roof, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Stirling and its royal buildings, and the caponiers, firing galleries built in the 18th century to defend the castle with muskets. Another stop is the King’s Closet, a small chamber off the king’s bedchamber that may have been used as a private oratory for prayer. Historians believe Mary, Queen of Scots herself may have prayed here during her stays at Stirling.
The closet also connects to a narrow stairway leading to the upper palace, a private route reserved for monarchs like James VI, who could discreetly move between his chambers and those of his courtiers.
Other sites include the former Governor’s Kitchen, built in the 1700s. Archaeological excavations in 1997 revealed that this structure stood on the remains of a medieval chapel, complete with nine burials dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. Researchers believe the graves may include a 14th-century English knight killed during Scotland’s Wars of Independence and perhaps even Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox and grandfather of James VI.
Visitors can also follow the paths once used by servants carrying food from the castle’s vast 16th-century kitchens into the Great Hall, Scotland’s largest medieval banqueting hall. The tour even leads to the musicians’ gallery, where fanfares and performances once entertained the royal court.
One of the most intriguing stops is hidden in the Prince’s Tower, where 16th-century graffiti survives. Inscribed into the plaster of James VI’s former schoolroom is the name “James 6,” possibly the young king’s own hand.
Stirling Castle’s Place in History
Rising dramatically above the River Forth, Stirling Castle guarded the strategic crossing between Scotland’s Highlands and Lowlands, earning it the reputation of being the “Key to the Kingdom.” Its history stretches back to at least the 12th century, with Scotland’s kings and queens frequently using it as a royal residence. Stirling witnessed some of the most dramatic episodes in Scottish history, from the childhood coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543 to repeated English sieges during the Wars of Independence. The nearby Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) cemented its reputation as a symbol of Scottish resistance and triumph.
A Unique Visitor Experience
Ross Blevins, Interpretative Events and Guiding Manager at Stirling Castle, emphasised the rarity of these new tours:
“The stops on this new tour are usually under strict lock and key. Some of the areas have been closed for decades, while others have never before been open to the public, so it is truly a unique visitor experience and a chance to uncover some of the many secrets of Stirling Castle.”
Secret Stirling Tours are not suitable for visitors under 12, nor for those uncomfortable with heights or confined spaces. The route involves uneven ground, steep stairways, and narrow passages, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Tickets cost £15 on top of standard castle admission (£33.50 for adults, £30 concessions, £24 for children over 12). Members of Historic Scotland receive free admission and 10% off the tour ticket price.
For more information or to book, visitors can go to the Historic Environment Scotland website.
Top Image: Photo by Julien.scavini / Wikimedia Commons
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