Perched high on a crag above the floodplain of the River Forth, this Victorian monument in the shape of a medieval tower is so Gothic it deserves circling bats and croaking ravens. It commemorates William Wallace, the hero of the bid for Scottish independence depicted in the film Braveheart. The view from the top over the flat, green gorgeousness of the Forth Valley, including the site of Wallace’s 1297 victory over the English at Stirling Bridge, almost justifies the steep entry fee.
The climb up the narrow staircase inside leads through a series of galleries, including the Hall of Heroes, a marble pantheon of lugubrious Scottish luminaries. Admire Wallace’s 66 inches of broadsword and see the man himself recreated in a 3D audiovisual display.
Bus 52 runs from stance B across the road from Stirling train station to the visitor center (£2.80, 10 minutes, every 30 minutes). From July to September, a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus links the bus station, castle and monument (£4.90 per day).
