Stirling Castle – Stirling Old Town Jail loop from Cambusbarron

Stirling Castle – Stirling Old Town Jail loop from Cambusbarron

Easy

riders

Stirling Castle – Stirling Old Town Jail loop from Cambusbarron

01:17

26.7km

170m

Road cycling

Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 8, 2026

Tips

The surface along some of this route may not be suitable

Some segments of your route comprise a surface that may not be suitable for your chosen sport.

After 20.3 km for 725 m

After 21.2 km for 361 m

After 23.3 km for 109 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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6.51 km

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most historically important sites and was once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle.
Knights, nobles and foreign ambassadors once flocked to Stirling Castle to revel in its grandeur with its superb sculptures and beautiful gardens. It was a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations from christenings to coronations.

Open
1 April to 30 September:
Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm

1 October to 31 March:
Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 5pm
New Year’s Day (1 January): 11am to 5pm
Last entry to Stirling Castle is 45 minutes before closing. The Regimental Museum closes 45 minutes before the castle.

Café opening hours
The Unicorn Café is open year-round and serves a delicious menu of traditional hot and cold food.
The Pentice open-air café is open from April to September and offers a good selection of sandwiches, home baking and hot/cold drinks.

Closed
Christmas Day
Boxing Day

Tip by

21.1 km

Ebenezer Erskine Monument

Highlight • Historical Site

21.2 km

Stirling Tolbooth

Highlight • Historical Site

The Tolbooth is a modern arts venue located within one of Stirling’s most significant historical buildings. A jail, courthouse and one time Scottish Parliament during James VI’s reign, the Tolbooth has played an important part in Stirling’s story.
They offer a wide ranging programme of performances and events including, live music, comedy and theatre. We are committed to working with young, emerging musicians and provide a number of opportunities and projects throughout the year to support their development.

Tip by

21.2 km

Stirling Old Town Jail

Highlight • Historical Site

The Old Town Jail was first opened in 1847. Located at the top of St. John Street, the jail paints a frightening picture of what it would have been like to be imprisoned in the 1800's. As you travel round the dark corridors inspecting the cells you'll experience the atmosphere of jail life: creaking hinges, a shuffle of feet, time hanging heavily in the air. You may be in 'luck' and a desperate prisoner might even try to make good his escape. If this happens, you must follow the instructions of your warder - do not panic, try to stay calm.

Tip by

21.3 km

Cowane's Hospital

Highlight • Historical Site

Cowane's Hospital is a 17th-century almshouse in the Old Town of Stirling, Scotland. It was established in 1637 with a bequest of 40,000 merks from the estate of the merchant John Cowane (1570–1633). Subsequently converted for use as a Guildhall the building is considered by Historic Scotland to be "a rare survival of 17th century burgh architecture and one of the finest buildings of its kind in Scotland."[1] It was listed at category A in 1965.[1] The gardens are also seen as a "rare survival" of an institutional garden of the 17th century, and were included in the national Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in 2012.[2] The hospital is located on St John Street, between the medieval Church of the Holy Rude and the 19th-century Old Town Jail.

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21.5 km

Mar's Wark

Highlight • Historical Site

Commissioned around 1569 by the powerful Earl of Mar, heriditary Keeper of Stirling Castle and one time Regent of Scotland during the minority of James VI. The Earls of Mar were originally the Erskine Family who were appointed by David II as heriditary keepers of Stirling Castle.
The shell of a splendid renaissance style town house is all that remains of a once, grand building at the top of the Old Town. The facade of Mars Wark is decorated with stone carvings, panels, gargoyles and much of the stone would have come from the ruined Cambuskenneth Abbey.
The 11th Earl of Mar supported the Jacobite cause and following the failure of the 1715 rebellion, the house was converted into barracks. During the 1745-6 rising it was damaged by cannon fire and fell into ruin.

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22.3 km

The Beheading Stone on Gowanhill

Highlight • Historical Site

The beheading stone is thought to have been used for capital punishments in the 15th Century and was probably used in the executions of various important figures.
In 1425, Murdoch, Duke of Albany and former Regent of Scotland, two of his sons and his father-in-law, the Earl of Lennox were executed. King James I was taking revenge for Albany's 18 year abuse of power when the King was held captive in England.

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26.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types