Wall-walks were an important feature of the castle’s defences. They were raised platforms built around the inside of the high curtain wall, allowing sentries to see over it and scan the surrounding countryside.



If the castle was besieged, the wall-walk allowed defenders to fire weapons down onto advancing enemies. Curtain walls were usually crenellated (with alternating higher and lower sections), allowing defenders to fire from a protected position.

There were probably wall-walks around Stirling Castle’s curtain walls from medieval times. The present wall-walks date from the early 1700s. At that time, the castle’s defences were improved in response to the Jacobite Rising of 1708.

Visitors can access some of the wall-walks around the Douglas Gardens and the Nether Bailey (subject to weather conditions) and enjoy superb views.