"One of Scotland's most iconic strongholds, Stirling Castle, has launched a new bespoke visitor experience: Secret Stirling Tours. Beginning today, the tours offer exclusive access to areas of the fortress usually closed to the public, revealing both hidden chambers and fascinating stories from centuries of history. The daily guided tours, priced at £15 in addition to castle admission, will be limited to just 12 people and run at 11am and 2pm."
"Among the highlights are the wall walk around the Great Hall roof, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views over Stirling and its royal buildings, and the caponiers, firing galleries built in the 18th century to defend the castle with muskets. Another stop is the King's Closet, a small chamber off the king's bedchamber that may have been used as a private oratory for prayer. Historians believe Mary, Queen of Scots herself may have prayed here during her stays at Stirling."
"The closet also connects to a narrow stairway leading to the upper palace, a private route reserved for monarchs like James VI, who could discreetly move between his chambers and those of his courtiers. Other sites include the former Governor's Kitchen, built in the 1700s. Archaeological excavations in 1997 revealed that this structure stood on the remains of a medieval chapel, complete with nine burials dating from the 13th to 16th centuries."
Stirling Castle launched Secret Stirling Tours providing exclusive access to fortress areas usually closed to the public. Tours run daily at 11am and 2pm, are limited to 12 people, and cost £15 plus castle admission. Each guided tour visits around ten secret locations with routes adapted for weather and accessibility. Highlights include the Great Hall roof wall walk with panoramic views, 18th-century caponiers, and the King's Closet, a possible private oratory linked to Mary, Queen of Scots. The closet connects via a narrow stairway to the upper palace used by monarchs like James VI. Excavations revealed medieval chapel remains and nine burials beneath the former Governor's Kitchen, possibly including a 14th-century English knight and Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox.
Read at Medievalists.net
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