What a cute little inn!

First, some background. After traveling in small inns throughout Ireland and Wales in June 2006, we booked an apartment in Edinburgh for what was to be the hilight of our trip. Sadly, our apartment was burglarized. Shaken by the "city" experience, we took the advice of the apartment owner and hopped the first train to a smaller town -- Stirling. We called around and found a room available for the first night at the Portcullis. (The following two nights, we had to move elsewhere because the inn was fully booked.)

The Portcullis is literally adjacent to Stirling Castle. Although it is possible to walk from the rail station to the inn, it's entirely uphill. I recommend catching a cab upon arrival when you have luggage. Then, you can walk down to the town restaurants, etc. on your own after that.

The inn is old and doesn't even pretend to be new. No elevators here. It's really a restaurant/pub with several rooms upstairs in nooks & crannies. Really, I think we went up two or three different little stairways to get to our room. Therefore, it's not recommended for the elderly or handicapped. If you're able bodied, though, it's a charming experience.

The room itself was tiny but well-equipped and recently renovated. Very comfortable bed, exceptional bathroom (clean and modern), and a beautiful view. See my pictures!

Breakfast was worth the trip to Scotland! It's served in a banquet-type room upstairs -- nothing fancy. But, the quality of the food was outstanding and included in the room price. As is traditional for hotels in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, a buffet of cereals, toasts, scones, jams and marmalades, juices, milk, coffee, and tea are all awaiting you when you show up for breakfast. Then you choose a cooked-to-order hot meal. The eggs with smoked salmon were fantastic -- the best we had on our trip.

We didn't have dinner at the Portcullis, but it looked very popular. The pub/restaurant is adorable -- a small, intimate type of place where you probably meet fun locals and tourists alike.

I wouldn't recommend teh Portcullis for families with little children or older travelers who have trouble with stairs. For a couple, though, it's a unique experience and as far as you can get from a cold "chain" atmosphere.

A few tips for sightseeing in the area:

- Do take advantage of the guided tours at Stirling Castle. The guides are so entertaining!

- For a fantastic day trip, hop a train to Birnam/Dunkeld, a little further north. The scenery on the way there is varied and breathtaking. You get off the train at Birnam and walk through the village where Beatrix Potter was born, across the River Tay, and into Dunkeld. The whole area really feels like traveling back in time and discovering a hidden secret. Have lunch or dinner outdoors on the patio at the Taybank Hotel in Dunkeld -- fabulous food and awesome atmosphere for a reasonable price.