Old Stirling Bridge from Stirling Castle

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 27 Nov 2011

The view from the Grand Battery at the castle. "Sterling was our next stage, an ancient city, or town rather, and an important pass, which, with Dumbarton, is indeed the defence of the Lowlands against the Highlands; and, as one very knowingly said, Dunbarton is the lock of the Highlands, and Sterling-Castle keeps the key. (...) The castle is not so very difficult of access as Edinburgh; but it is esteemed equally strong, and particularly the works are capable to mount more cannon, and these cannon are better pointed; particularly there is a battery which commands, or may command the bridge; the command of which is of the utmost importance; nay, it is the main end and purpose for which, as we are told, the castle was built. They who built the castle, without doubt built it, as the Scots express it, to continue aye, and till somebody should build another there, which, in our language, would be forever and a day after." -- Daniel Defoe, A Tour Thro' The Whole Island of Great Britain, 1724-6

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