The Best Hotels to Book Near Stirling Castle

Stirling’s city centre fills the space between the castle and the train station. In the heart of this area is the old Victorian townhouse holding Friar’s Wynd, a renovated boutique hotel. On the ground floor, you’ll find the bare-brick and varnished wood of its very own cafe and wine bar. The eight rooms above maintain that style; many have old brick fireplaces, wooden furniture and gilded mirrors.

Many of Stirling’s hotels are smaller, family-run places that offer the kind of attentiveness that’s often lost in larger chain hotels. The Allan Park is one such example, consisting of seven double bedrooms above a modern pub and restaurant. Double rooms are designed in a patchwork of pale green and copper tones; some have views of Stirling Castle.

The main form of hotel lining the lochs, valleys and towns of Scotland is the humble B&B, where generously portioned Scottish breakfasts are served each morning. With Stirling being so hilly, a hearty meal is the best way to start the day, and for that, elegant Victoria Square is a perfect choice. Close to the castle and carrying all the finesse of a boutique hotel, it offers single, double and four-poster bedrooms, with breakfast included.

Once upon a time, Stirling Highland Hotel was the High School of Stirling. Now, instead of pupils, halls and classrooms, there are guests, a large spa and ensuite bedrooms. Among the highlights of this 19th-century building are the generously proportioned indoor swimming pool, the Headmaster’s Study – which was wryly turned into a bar – and the Scholar’s Restaurant. Stirling Castle is a six-minute walk away.

Technically, Inglewood House and Spa is closer to the town of Alloa than to Stirling, but this stunning mansion hotel, set in acres of its own parkland, is a worthy outlier for those with their own transport. Rooms vary greatly and are sprinkled throughout the mansion and grounds. They range from the Billiard Suite, with Egyptian cotton sheets on its four-poster bed, to glamping pods and lodges.

Another refined apartment stay in Stirling can be had at the Old Tram House, midway between the city centre and the University of Stirling. There’s a healthy dose of Scottish charm in its self-catered flats – tartan rugs smartly complement Chesterfield couches and chintz wallpaper – while the wainscoted dining rooms are decorated in bright cream and gold tones. The National Wallace Monument is a ten-minute walk away.

A mix of blackened sandstone and neoclassical architecture – you can’t miss the columned entrance – makes Hotel Colessio seem like some sort of Scottish-Ancient Greek fusion hotel. However, this charming old property has had a thorough revamp inside. Rooms are decorated with creative lighting and blended textures of polka-dot headboards and striped carpets. The hotel also has its own grill restaurant, using local ingredients wherever possible, and a large events space for special occasions.