Last weekend, I ventured to Stirling with two friends who were visiting from London. Only a 20-minute train ride away from Glasgow, Stirling is one of those cute, small towns you just can’t miss.
We arrived around 10:00 a.m. on Friday and wandered around the city. After passing a beautiful church, a charming old-fashioned candy shop and a few cafés, we slowly made our way to Stirling Castle. On the grueling walk uphill, we passed the Old Town Jail. It’s absolutely beautiful; embarrassingly enough, I mistakenly thought it was the castle! The tour didn’t start for another hour, so we continued on. I’d choose a castle over a jail anyway… Wouldn’t you?
Of course, it started raining as soon as we got there. The weather in Scotland is very unpredictable. Thankfully, when it rains, it’s mostly just misty and foggy. On the bright side (pun intended), I think the weather just made my pictures that much more authentic.
The castle is everything I thought it would be: turrets, cobblestone walkways, underground rooms and amazing aerial views. After paying for tickets and entering through the gate, we walked into a stone hallway with several rooms on each side. Each room had information and activities to learn more about the history of the castle and medieval period in Scotland. I channeled my four-year-old self by playing dress up and virtually painting a jester. Next, we saw the extravagant interior. My favorite was the queen’s room, which had embroidered rugs, patterned curtains that reached the floor and an enviable bed with a gold canopy. Even the ceiling was detailed with paintings, sculptures and chandeliers. It’s truly a place I’ll never forget.
On our way back to town, we were given a flyer for a discounted lunch at a local pub. As college students who refuse to turn down cheap food, we decided to check it out. It turned out to be a cozy pub with a friendly Scottish man working the entire floor.
We decided to try “Haggis, Neeps and Tatties,” a traditional Scottish dish usually served with whisky sauce. Haggis is made of sheep, oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning. “Neeps and tatties” are mashed yellow turnips and potatoes. The dish sounds gross, but I thought it was good! I’m looking forward to trying it again in Glasgow.
I had a great time in Stirling and can’t wait to continue traveling around Scotland. Next up: Edinburgh!