Monuments to visit Central & West Coast

Few buildings are as central to Scottish history as this one. The earliest written records date back to the ^12th century, when King Alexander ^I had a chapel built here. It would appear that he made it the seat of his power, as it was here that he died before his successor, David ^I, consecrated the town as a royal burgh . By the time Alexander III died in 1286, it was a major administrative and strategic center. When Edward ^I of England invaded the country in 1296, he found the fortress abandoned and placed a garrison there, which was dislodged the following year by Andrew Moray and William Wallace. The following summer, the English victory at Falkirk forced the Independents to abandon the city, before taking it back in 1299. However, they lost it again in 1304, when the English deployed 17 siege engines. Their new monarch, Edward II, was unable to protect Stirling, which came under the authority of Robert, since crowned King of Scots, after the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The city was English from 1236 to 1242, before falling into the hands of the future Robert II, guaranteeing its Scottish future. The country being finally pacified, the Stuarts built a real palace there and multiplied the works during the Renaissance. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned queen there before her departure for the French court. She made a habit of visiting it regularly and had her newborn son, James, the future sovereign of Scotland and England, baptized there and spent his childhood there. Following the Union of the two crowns in 1603, Stirling's role declined sharply and the castle became primarily a defensive place during the religious troubles. Today, a visit to the castle takes you back to this rich and eventful past.

To see: We discover the historic chapel, the impressive Great Hall, but also the royal palace. The apartments of the queen and the king are of great beauty. Do not miss the kitchens, the tapestry exhibition and the Regimental Museum of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. All brought to life by a costumed staff, as well as free guided tours every hour between 10am and 5pm.

Will you see the ghosts of the castle? It is said that ghosts would live here... One would be dressed as a Highlander, in a kilt, and that he could approach visitors to talk to them and would disappear immediately. In other versions, visitors would think of a guide, would approach him and he would vanish into thin air. One also speaks about a green lady..

Home of the Dukes of Argyll, this romantic neo-gothic castle is the fruit of the genius of William Adam and Roger Morris. Built between 1745 and 1790, it stands on 6.5 hectares of gardens in the centre of a 24,000 hectare estate. Its great beauty earned it the right to serve as the setting for an episode of the Downtown Abbey series. In addition to its finely furnished and ornamented rooms, it contains more than 1,300 weapons. You will admire the rich State Dining Room and the Tapestry Drawing Room. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and enjoy a snack in the elegant, traditional tearoom.

To visit Dunollie is to visit 3 sites. First, Dunollie Castle: its ruins, with a last renovation completed in 2019, offer a superb panoramic view on the Oban bay. Then the house-museum: a house from 1745 where each room has been renovated and fitted out to display old objects (^19th century) testifying to the daily life of its occupants. From the kitchen to the children's rooms, we discover everything about the life of a family in the 1800s. The museum also tells the story of the MacDougall clan and, through their epic story, traces the history of Scotland. Then, the park: its course invites to better understand the various invasions which marked the history of Scotland. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the civilization and mythology of the Vikings.

Regularly during the school vacations, the site offers practical and manual workshops of 1 hour for children (£5), which can be an excellent idea to familiarize them with English. There is also the possibility to follow a guided tour at no extra cost or to organize specific visits: adapted to children, focusing on the discovery of the gardens, taking a closer look at the old textiles..

You can have lunch, a picnic or a snack on the spot, thanks to The Kettle café and its menu, made of home-made products, very tasty and at mini prices.

Erected in 1869, this superb 67m tower is dedicated to none other than the famous national hero of the 13th century: Sir William Wallace. It was made possible thanks to a fund-raising campaign in the midst of the resurgence of Scottish identity. Its elaborate Victorian Gothic style contrasts with the very modern University of Stirling, at the bottom of the hill from which it dominates the surroundings. It is said to have been here that the fierce warrior watched Edward I's army set off before the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September 1297. Climbing the 246 steps to the top offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area. The visit also allows you to see the weapons used in the battle against the English, some busts of great Scottish names and the sword of Wallace himself.

Good to know : Access to the monument (outside) is entirely free. A free parking is available at the bottom of the site and you can go up by following a path that goes through the woods or the small road, only used by the site shuttle. The site alone offers magnificent panoramas.

Guided tours with actors: In high season, guided tours are offered by actors in costume. All year round, conferences and animations are programmed.

Legends Coffee House: To refresh yourself and regain your strength after walking to the monument, let yourself be tempted by the Legends Coffee House. It's cosy and everything is local.

Despite its military activity during the Wars of Independence and the War of the Three Kingdoms, Doune Castle has remained almost intact and has been used in several film shoots, such as the Holy Grail of Monty Python or, more recently, theGame of Thrones series, in which it was sometimes used as a set at Winterfell, as well as the Outlander series. It was the home of Robert Stuart, Duke of Albany. Son of King Robert II and brother of King Robert III, he was regent of the country during his father's illness and held the reins of power during his brother's reign.

Raised in the 13th century, this medieval building is one of the oldest stone castles in the country. Placed at the mouth of Loch Linnhe, it was the work of the Earls McDougall, before passing into the hands of the Campbell clan in the 15th century. Besieged by Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence, it is a witness to the history of the country. Very well preserved, it offers to see imposing walls, the remains of its great hall and the residences of the new house, as well as a chapel. Climb the ramparts to embrace a superb view!

Perched on an island in the middle of Loch Laich, a cove in Loch Linnhe, this fortress was built in the 14th century by the McDougall clan and was used for the filming of a scene from the Monthy Python film, Sacred Grail (1975). Tours last about two hours, including the boat trip, and are led by the Stewart Allward family, the current owner of the site. You can also enjoy the superb view of the castle from the Castle Stalker View café, which offers a breathtaking view of the building, or by walking a few metres towards the shore.

Castle Campbell or Castle of Glooms - it's the same one, called differently - overlooks Dollar. This ^15th century castle dominates the valley with its medieval silhouette. Home of the Earls of Argyll - the heads of the Campbell clan - it is impressive for the panorama it offers and its central keep, 20 meters high. It first belonged to the Stuart clan. Mary Queen of Scots and John Knox stayed there. You can park below and access it by going up a waterfall, through a wooded and green area of great beauty. The gardens are also very pretty.

Skipness Castle is a remnant of a castle, situated opposite the island of Arran and accessible from the east coast of Kintyre, south of the village of Skipness. It is one of the oldest castles still standing. It dates from the early 13th century and has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. Also known as MacSween Castle, after the clan that built it, it consisted of two floors with a modest entrance hall and a chapel dedicated to Saint Columba.

A huge 300 hectare park along the canal between Falkirk and Grangemouth. This ecopark connects more than 16 local communities. It is mainly known as the home of the Kelpies. These are the largest horse sculptures in the world! These two huge horse heads that are 9m high are inspired by mythical Scottish creatures. You can go inside if you book a guided tour.

Great place for families with velocipede boats, bike paths, water fountain area and an adventure playground.

Discover here the most beautiful set of bells in Scotland (there are 10 of them) and the second largest collection in the world (by weight). You can discover the bell ringers as well as the mechanisms of the bells. On the ground floor, a free exhibition tells the story of the bells, cast in 1920, of their ringing and reveals their little names. It is possible to climb the 176 steps of the spiral staircase to gain height on Inveraray and admire the magnificent carillon, as well as the panoramic view of the mountains and Loch Fyne.

This lively and colorful attraction was developed in a former prison built in 1819. Thanks to actors in costume and a staging faithful to reality, one is immersed in the daily life of the prisoners, from their trial to the cells. Attention is paid to every detail and one is not left indifferent to the stories of torture and forced labor. Many men were subjected to it, but also women and children. The audio guide is included in the entrance fee, and there is a French version of the guided tour.

The graves of Rob Roy and his wife Mary can be seen in the cemetery in the hamlet of Balquhidder, near the plaque proclaiming "MacGregor despite them" ("MacGregor malgré eux tous"). The church is a real treasure for lovers of heritage and religious history. Indeed, there is the tombstone of the first saint who evangelized the territory, representing him with the salvation cup in his hands. There are also copies of the pages of the Bible translated by Reverend Kirk and an exhibition of objects that belonged to Rob Roy.

The Engine Shed invites you to explore Scotland's built heritage. Classical and interactive exhibitions provide an understanding of architecture over the centuries, capturing its history and becoming the ultimate in learning about Scotland's built heritage. The museum spaces are very modern: 3D theatres, augmented reality, participatory workshops... This very concrete visit puts you in a situation and makes you discover the buildings in all their states: plans, materials, know-how, engineering, technologies, and even practical advice.

The prison in the old town can be visited on a guided tour with an actor in costume, taking turns playing different roles. Immersed in the gloomy atmosphere of the building, designated as one of the worst prisons in Britain, you will discover the history of crime and punishment in the Stirling of yesteryear. You will meet the executioner Jock "The Happy Hangman" Rankin, but also the murderers and the tortured. From the top of the tower you will enjoy a beautiful view of the historic town and the surrounding countryside.

Kilchurn castle is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. It must be said that its ruins are particularly photogenic, facing the loch and the hollow of the mountains. It was built in the 1400s and was the stronghold of the Campbells clan of Glenorchy for 150 years. After the first Jacobite uprising in 1689, it became a garrison stronghold, before being abandoned at the end of the 18th century. Currently, it is only visited from the outside. A car park a few hundred metres away makes it easy to stop there.

Emblematic site of Tarbert, its castle is a listed monument of national importance, thanks to the passage and action of Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland in 1325. He is the one who had it expanded and strengthened. If the site has been a ruin since the 18th century, it is very pleasant to visit for its view of Loch Fyne and its park, much appreciated by families for a picnic, a nature outing or to watch the sheep of the Hebrides shearing grass. It is him you will see, illuminated, at night, from the port of Tarbert.