Visit Stirling, Scotland: Learning History From Two Different Lens

Who is actually the winner?

Stirling Castle on Tik Tok

William Wallace on Tik Tok

It was our last day in Scotland.  After a week's worth of travel, we made our way south from Skye to Stirling.  A small town with a big history. Stirling sits as a pivotal point to access northern Scotland, and history shows its importance.

In Stirling, you'll find two different historical sites to visit.  They sit on opposite sides of the river and give opposite viewpoints of the same point in history.

On one side of the river sits Stirling Castle.  A walking tour provides a glimpse of various architecture that was added on as various rulers built their legacy.  Most famous of the occupants was Mary, Queen of Scots.  However, other rulers came and went, both Scottish and British, as the claim for Scotland was a consistent battle.  

The castle tells heroic tales of those who fought valiantly.  Ran by England, the British speak highly of those who ruled in the past from Stirling Castle, and explain the valiant efforts made by English Countryman to tame the Scots of the north.  History is told through the lens of the British Monarchy, and the need to tame the rebels in Scotland.  The castle is worth the visit, as its history is well documented within an exhibit.

When you get to the top of the castles defenses and look over the city, you will notice and take pause of the William Wallace memorial in the background.  We had just come from the Wallace Memorial, and it's location did not go unnoticed.  On the edge of the Battle of Stirling sits two sides.  The castle sits as the stronghold, reminding Scotland of the presence of the British Monarchy.  Yet across the way, Scotland has built a memorial to their Scottish hero.  It overlooks the castle, reminding the British the Scots too, have a side to their story.

The William Wallace Memorial sits at the top of a hill, surrounded by trees.  There is a walking path you can take, with markers along the way to read and learn more about the area.  If you want to skip the climb up to the base of the memorial, a bus will take you the entrance.

Once inside the WIlliam Wallace Memorial, there are four floors of interactive exhibits.  Each one tells the story of Scottish Clans and how William Wallace made his way through history as a hero for the Scots.  From a young child to his final days before being killed by the British, the Scotland National Heritage Site shares the fierce perseverance of the Scots, and their fight for freedom from the British Monarchy.  

The rebels written about across the river at Stirling Castle are given a different lens in the William Wallace Memorial.  They are honored by their history and their clans, reminding the past the of the valiant efforts made to provide Scotland freedom from the British Monarchy in the south.  The story explains Wallace's death at the memorial, and then leads into Scotland and England coming to terms with their relationship.  However, you just leave with the feeling that there is still more of the story left to tell.

History is not meant to be rewritten or disregarded.  We learned about both sides of the story, cautiously learning the details and tried to understand the different perspectives.  These are not easy moments to walk through.  As visitors to the country, it's not our story to tell.  However, it becomes an important piece of reflection.  There are always two sides to history, and it's important to learn both of them to make your own conclusions.

When visiting Scotland, and especially if you are near enough to Edinburgh, take the time to visit Stirling.  The city is quaint and the history is incredible.  Wear good walking shoes, as the climbs can be tough at moments. (You can find ours HERE.  We are Amazon Affiliates and we really can't recommend the shoes enough.  There's so much walking when traveling)

Find your moment of history in Stirling.