King's Park Stirling
Welcome to King's Park. Once a royal hunting ground below Stirling Castle, it is today a much-loved public park in the heart of the town — with a cafe, a play park, courts and open green space alongside the history.
Three waymarked trails run through the park, tracing its history from medieval to modern — or come just for the walk, the views and the coffee. Comfortable shoes are worth having: some of the paths are unsealed and can be muddy after rain.
Three waymarked trails to choose from
Pick a coloured route and follow the trail stickers and signage (coming soon) around the park — a short heritage circuit, or one of two longer loops.
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Heritage Circuit
1.6 km · around 35 minutes · stops 1–16
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King's Knot Loop
2.9 km · around 70 minutes · stops 1–24
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Full Park Explorer
3.3 km · around 70 minutes · stops 1–16 and 25–33
Visiting the park
There is more here than the history. The Pavilion cafe, the play park and skate park, tennis courts, seating and parking — nearly all of it within a couple of minutes of the front door.
About King's Park
Kings Park is Scotland's oldest park, founded in the 12th century as the royal landscape around the castle and used by every Scottish monarch from David I to James VI. From the Park there are magnificent views of the Castle and of the mountains beyond — Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chroin.
With its Castle situated high up on a volcanic outcrop, surrounded by fairly flat countryside and river crossing point, Stirling has over a long period marked an important strategic location, military fortification and gateway for armies travelling north and south.
Although the Kings Park now contains fertile land and various public amenities, in the past this Park would have been larger in size. The river Forth would have been more difficult to cross around Stirling because of boggy conditions in parts, particularly for an army travelling south. Stirling has been described as a "brooch holding Scotland together."
Stirling Castle was a principal residence of Stewart monarchs until 1603 when, following the Union of the Crowns, the royal court moved to London.
In August 2013 ownership of this ancient Royal park passed from the Crown Estate, via the Scottish Government, to Historic Scotland — now Historic Environment Scotland. Stirling Council holds overall management under a 150-year lease, with a long sub-lease of the golf course section to Stirling Golf Club, and the Council manages the public park area. The park covers around 453 acres of golf course, public open space and a few agricultural tenancies.