Autumn at Stirling Castle
The trees are beginning to take on their autumn tints and one of the best places to see the spectacle is from the Queen Anne Garden, which is perched high above the landscape on a southern-facing terrace of Stirling Castle.
From here the entire Carse, the wide floodplain that runs from the foot of the castle’s volcanic rock, westwards to Gartmore, is visible and as the season progresses the woodlands that grow on the valley slopes will continue to become more fiery in colour with every day that passes.
With the peak of Ben Lomond visible in the distance and the River Forth cutting through the flat plain beneath it, the sunny terrace, high above the town, boasts the best views of any garden in Scotland.
This grassy terrace, with its twin beech trees, has been a restful spot for more than 500 years and kings and courtiers have strolled its paths. Some historians believe that James VI, who grew up at the Castle may have played bowls on the lawn, which had been laid more than 100 years before he was born.
Today beds of red and yellow roses, the heraldic colours of the Stuarts, are a reminder of his residence here and of the Jacobite siege of the castle in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie attempted to reinstate the dynasty.
Looking down from the terrace, visitors can see the outline of another historic space. The mysterious mounds that lie here are what remains of the King’s Knot garden, which was created in the 16th century by James V for his French wife, Mary of Guise. Today the landforms are all that remain, but at the time trees and flowers would have grown here.
A third cultivated space, the Douglas Garden, is the oldest garden on the site. It lies at the highest point of the castle rock and although today it is a tranquil spot of tree and grass that in early spring is studded with snowdrops, it was the site for the defenestration of William, 8th Earl of Douglas, who was thrown from a window in the castle in 1452 during the long-running feud between King James II and the Black Douglases, who threatened his rule.
Looking east from the Castle, the sinuous curves of the Forth make a striking feature, while the three bridges, which form one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, are clearly visible.
Stirling Castle’s rich history will be explored throughout October through a packed programme of seasonal events, including Great Big Living History Week, which begins on Saturday, 11 October, and a Mythical Mystery Trail for children, starting on the same date, when young visitors will get the chance to look for the castle’s mythical beasts. Lantern tours of Mystery and Malice will begin on Friday, 24 October and that weekend there will also be Halloween Shenanigans, with eerie stories and creepy crafts on offer.
Details:
The castle is open daily, 9:30am – 4pm
Stirling Castle, Castle Esplanade, Stirling FK8 1EJ
Entry to the Queen Anne Garden and the King’s Knot is free.
Tickets to the castle are: £18.50/£15/£11/free (under 7s).
Tel: 01786 450000
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens www.discoverscottishgardens.org.uk
