The Royal Tour

Linlithgow Palace is our first stop, This is where Mary Stewart was born on 8th December 1542, her father James V died 6 days later and she was crowned queen whilst still an infant.

The first mention of Linlithgow as a royal residence is in 1301 when Edward 1st of England took the House and fortified it, the English stayed for over a decade and eventually left in 1314 after their defeat at Bannockburn. James 1st of Scotland started rebuilding in 1425 after a fire in 1424 destroyed the House and much of the town, His descendents all left their mark in the shape of improvements to the palace over the years.

Stirling Castle, set on a volcanic outcrop at the head of Stirling’s old town, Stirling Castle is very much like its counterpart in Edinburgh. Its strategic position at the heart of Scotland ensured it’s place in History as it was besieged time after time involving among others William Wallace and King Robert The Bruce.

Films such as Braveheart and The Bruce have ensured that the castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland. Visit the kitchens and see what life would have been like for a commoner living at the castle.

Historic Scotland often put on re-enactments and other events during the summer months, we will endeavour to arrive at the castle to coincide with these events. We will ensure that you have free time in Stirling for your lunch and any other visits you wish to make. The castles admission ticket includes admission to Argyll’s Lodgings which is not far from the esplanade.

It’s back on the bus for our last visit of the tour, the Wallace Monument, built in 1860 to commemorate the” Guardian of Scotland, William Wallace”.

Find out about the controversy surrounding the building of this grand structure.
You can either, walk up from the car park and appreciate the fine views, or you can hop aboard the shuttle bus which will ferry you up to the top. Learn all about the great man who struggled to liberate his fellow Scots from the Tyranny of the English Oppressors.