Mary, Queen of Scots: Linlithgow to Fotheringhay

Mary was born here in December 1542, and lived in the palace for a time. In March 1543 the English ambassador Ralph Sadler came to see her; her mother showed him the queen out of her swaddling and he wrote that she was "as goodly a child I have seen, and like to live". On 26 July 1543 she was taken to Stirling Castle. The ruin is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and open to visitors all year round.

Visitor guidance: Open to visitors all year round, usually for an entrance fee.

Mary lived in the second-floor rooms of James V's Tower from 1561 until 1567. On 9 March 1566 she was at supper there when Darnley and several nobles came up the private stair from his apartments below. They dragged her private secretary David Rizzio into the outer chamber and stabbed him to death, allegedly with fifty-seven dagger wounds. Visitors to the palace can see the outer chamber, where his alleged bloodstain marks the place his body was left.

Visitor guidance: The palace is the monarch's Edinburgh residence; Mary's rooms are in James V's Tower.

After surrendering at Carberry Hill, Mary was held on this island from 17 June 1567 and spent most of her captivity in Glassin Tower. She miscarried twins conceived with Bothwell, and on 24 July 1567 signed her abdication in favour of her infant son. She made several failed escape attempts before getting away with the help of her gaoler's family on 2 May 1568. The ruin is open in summer, reached by ferry.

Visitor guidance: Open in summer; access is by ferry to the island.

Free from Loch Leven, Mary headed west for Dumbarton Castle, but the Earl of Moray's army met her forces at Langside on 13 May 1568. She watched from the Court Knowe, half a mile behind the lines, while the fight lasted only about forty-five minutes. Only one of Moray's men was killed, against over 100 of hers. Langside was then a village several miles south of Glasgow; it now lies well within the city.

Location precision: The exact ground is hard to place now that the village is inside Glasgow; the pin marks the battle's area.

Mary fled into England after Langside and was first held at Carlisle Castle under Lord Scrope, until it proved unsuitable. She was kept in the Warden's Tower. Her keeper Francis Knollys described her watching two football matches on a playing green outside the castle's postern gate. English Heritage manages the castle, which is open to the public.

Visitor guidance: Managed by English Heritage and open to the public.

In July 1568 Mary was moved to Bolton and given Henry Scrope's own apartments in the south-west tower. Her keeper Francis Knollys called it the highest walled house he had seen, with only one entrance. He also taught her English, which she had never used before; she spoke French, Latin and Scots. In January 1569 she was taken on to Tutbury. Bolton is now a tourist attraction.

Visitor guidance: The castle is open as a visitor attraction.

Mary's last prison. Her trial took place in the Great Hall on 5 October 1586 and lasted two days. She spent her final night praying in the small chapel and was beheaded on a scaffold in the great hall on 8 February 1587. The castle fell into ruin and was completely demolished soon after her death. Today there is little to see apart from earthworks and some masonry, but the site is open during daylight hours.

Visitor guidance: Open during daylight hours; expect earthworks rather than walls.