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Stirling Castle visit
- Entrances are paid by voucher.
- Moffat Woolen Mills, 01683 220134 on A701 or the Blacksmith’s Cottage at Gretna Green, 01461 338341, just over the border are potential strops on the way to Edinburgh.
- Coffee shop at Stirling will work for a light lunch.
En Route to Stirling
Moffat – rest stop
Before entering the town, on the right is the entrance to Moffat Weavers. You can stop here. There is a large parking area – phones, toilets, and cafeteria.
Stirling Castle – visit
Coaches are generally allowed to stay on the esplanade. However, they sometimes send coaches away to return at an appointed time. Bring the group through the first entrance, toilets are on the left-hand side. As group use the toilets, TM can deal with tickets. There is now a charge for audio guides which you download to your phone. Visitor will be given a ticket which needs to be scanned upon entry. Guided Tours of the Castle depart at the Castle Well on the hour and are half hourly at peak times. Castle has toilets, shops and a restaurant (light lunches).
On arrival point out:
The Wallace Monument on Abbey Crag (the hillside opposite)
Ensure that group is aware that once they have left the castle complex (that 2nd gate) after their visit, they will not be able to re-enter.
Stirling to Edinburgh
Route Options
Quickest route to Edinburgh (ideal after a long day with hotel check in dinner still to come) – M9 and A90 (taking in views of the Forth Bridges and at junction 6 of the M9 the world’s largest equine sculpture ‘the Kelpies . If group particularly want to drive over the Forth bridge (and if they won’t be having that option later in the trip), you could take M9 to Junction 8, the A876 to Kincardine and the A895 via Rosyth joining the A90 (the bridge) at North Queensferry. (Allow extra ½ hour for this route)