This half-day shore excursion from Greenock visits Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most complete castles in Scotland, followed by a walk through Stirling's medieval old town.
Stirling Castle stands on a volcanic crag with commanding views over the surrounding countryside, a defensible position that made it one of the most fought-over strongholds during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 1300s. Beyond its military history, the castle served as a royal palace: King James V built its Renaissance style Royal Palace in the 1530s and 1540s, and the recreated interiors reflect the court life of that era.
After the castle, you have time to walk through Stirling's old town, which sits below the castle walls near the River Forth. Narrow streets and historic buildings make it one of Scotland's better-preserved medieval town centers.
Following your visit, you return to the pier in Greenock.