STIRLING

Stirling Highland Hotel

A Victorian hotel in the old school buildings on Spittal Street, below Stirling Castle, with a leisure club, an ESPA spa, Scholars Restaurant, and a working observatory on the roof.

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from £89.00 Per night*

Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, Stirling, FK8 1DU

T: +44 (0)1786272727

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At a glance

What it is: A Victorian hotel in a former school on Spittal Street, with a leisure club, a spa, and a working observatory on the roof.
Rooms: Standard, Premium, Deluxe, Family, and accessible grades, with twin, double, and king beds.
Leisure club: A 17 metre indoor heated pool, a gym, a squash court, and a wellness centre with a hot tub, steam bath, and sauna.
Eating and drinking: Scholars Restaurant for Scottish and European cooking, and the Courtyard Bar outside.
Where it is: Spittal Street, on the climb below the castle, about nine minutes from the railway station on foot.
From: £89 a night.

The old school on the hill

Spittal Street runs up towards the castle, and the hotel occupies the school buildings partway along it. The archway entrances off Academy Road are level with the street, the courtyard sits behind them, and the building is more spread out than the frontage suggests: reception on one level, bedrooms over several floors, and the restaurant at the top.

Rooms run from Standard through Premium and Deluxe, and the difference is mostly what is in the room and when you leave it. The family rooms are two rooms rather than one, with a double bed, bunk beds next door, and an en suite between them.

The leisure club is the real difference between this and the other hotels on the hill: a 17 metre indoor heated pool, a gym with a weights area, a squash court, and a wellness centre with a hot tub, steam bath, and sauna. Guests get the pool and the gym at no charge. The spa alongside uses ESPA products, and spa days for non-residents start at £69 with a treatment and afternoon tea.

	Standard	Premium and Deluxe	Family	Accessible
Beds	Twin, double, or king	Double, twin, or king	A double, with bunks next door	Not stated
Check out	11am	Noon	11am	11am
What is in it	Tea and coffee, a desk, and a Freeview television	Robes, slippers, house wine, and a fridge in the Premium rooms	Two rooms, one en suite, sleeping four	A full wet room and pull cords

The room grades

1 / 3

Good to know

Parking is £10 a night. You enter your registration on a touchpad at reception and are issued an electronic permit.
There is one designated disabled space, between the courtyard entrance and the accessible ramp, out of roughly 85.
There is no lift between the second floor bedrooms and the bar and restaurant at the top of the building.
Dog friendly rooms are limited and have to be requested before you arrive. Blankets, bowls, and treats are put in the room.
The observatory was given to the school in 1889 by Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman. Its telescope still works and tours go through the hotel.
The Courtyard Bar is outdoors, so it depends on the weather.

Features

indoor pool
on-site parking
wifi
fitness centre
family rooms

Location

Where it puts you

The castle is up the hill, and the Old Town Jail is on the way to it, with guided tours and escape rooms in the cell blocks. The hotel counts five minutes on foot to the Thistles centre and ten to Stirling Distillery.

Across the river the Wallace Monument stands on Abbey Craig, and the hotel points dog owners at the trails around it. Stirling runs a full events calendar, so it is worth checking what is on before fixing dates.

Stirling

The castle, the monument, and what to do with a couple of days here.

Read the Stirling guide

Stirling's festivals and events

What is on through the year, and when the town fills up.

Read the events guide

Frequently asked questions

Is the pool free for guests?

Yes, the pool and the gym are included. The squash court is booked separately at reception.

How much is parking?

£10 a night, with an electronic permit issued at reception.

What time is check in and check out?

Check in is 3pm and check out is 11am, or noon in a Premium or Deluxe room. Early check in and late check out cost extra and depend on availability.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, at £25 a night. The dog friendly rooms are limited and have to be requested before you arrive.

Can non-residents eat at Scholars?

Yes, for the all day menu, Sunday lunch, and afternoon tea. There is a Lyre's menu for anyone not drinking.

What is the observatory?

A working observatory on the hotel roof, given to the school here in 1889. Its telescope is still in order, and tours are available to guests and to local groups.

Is the hotel accessible?

There is one fully accessible bedroom with a wet room and pull cords, and one partially accessible room with a shower over the bath. The Academy Road entrances are level, with a ramp into the courtyard.

Important

*Make it Scotland provides general information and aims to be as up to date as possible. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information or pricing provided.

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