Argyll's Lodging is the most complete 17th-century townhouse in Scotland, sitting on Castle Wynd in the angle between the road to the castle and the Church of the Holy Rude. The core of the building dates to about 1630, but the present configuration is the work of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, who extended it after 1670 into a grand four-sided house around a small inner court.
The principal rooms have been restored to look as they did in the 1680s, with painted ceilings, carved overmantels, and 17th-century textiles. The High Dining Room, the My Lady's Closet and the Drawing Room give a vivid picture of how a Scottish aristocrat at the top of his game would have lived — although the 9th Earl himself was executed for treason in 1685, only fifteen years after completing the house.
It is run by Historic Environment Scotland and admission is included with the Stirling Castle ticket. Allow 40 minutes to an hour. The entry is from Castle Wynd and is easy to miss; look for the iron gate next to the Church of the Holy Rude.