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The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre two
miles south of Stirling centre, for the Battle in
June 1314 that led to Robert the Bruce becoming
King of an independent Scotland.
The Monument can be visited any time free,
with the Visitor Centre open 10.00 to 17.00
with an entrance fee. Postcode: FK7 0PN
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The image top is from the entrance to the
Visitor Centre with the path leading up past
the Centre to the Monument.
The second image is of the Monument behind
the Visitor Centre.
This circular construction has a Flag Pole
and Memorial Cairn in the centre. The Monument
was built in 1964 for the 650th anniversary of
the Battle. The Flag Pole is said to be where
Robert the Bruce planted his Standard the night
before the Battle. The Monument was restored
around the time the new Visitor Centre was
built in 2014.
Inscriptions on the Cairn state: For God and
St Andrew / Robert the Bruce / King of Scots/
planted his standard near this spot when the
Scottish Patriots under his command vanquished
the army of Edward II of England at the Battle
of Bannockburn 24th June 1314.
The Statue of King Robert the Bruce on his
War Horse was created in 1964, restored in
2013.
Hop On Hop Off Buses run between Stirling,
The Battle of Bannockburn Experience, Stirling
Castle, & the Wallace
Monument.
These buses may not be running to the
Bannockburn Museum just now, check the website.
Bus
Information
The Visitor Centre has large 3D Screens that
take you into the Battle, with Arrows flying
past and Knights on Horses running at you.
There is also a War Room where you can try
Commanding the Battle yourself.
There are also a number of Costumes and
Weapons to use for Period Photos.
The Cafe is at the rear of the Visitor
Centre with views over the Battlefield, also
with large images of the Battle.
The King Robert Hotel is
right next to the Battle of Bannockburn
Experience. The Hotels Bistro serves Tea,
Coffee, and Meals throughout the day.
Battle of Bannockburn History
1286 - the death of the Scottish King
Alexander III, and that of his sole heir, the
four year old Princess Margaret four years
later, led to the English King Edward I trying
to take control of Scotland.
The Scottish Nobles where at that time
fighting amongst themselves to see who would
become the next King of Scotland.
1292 - John Balliol was chosen by the
Scottish Nobles to serve as their King. Edward
I is said to have played a part in the Nobles
choosing Balliol, as Edward believed he could
control Balliol.
1294 - War breaks out between England and
France that lasts four years.
1295 - Edward I requests John Balliol make
Scottish forces available for the War with
France. Balliol refuses and signs an agreement
with France instead.
1296 March 26th - Balliol forces attack
Carlisle Castle in the northwest of England,
but fail to capture the large Fortress.
1296 March 30th - forces of Edward I
massacre most of the population of Berwick in
southeast Scotland.
1296 April - Edward I forces defeat Scots at
Dunbar and Imprison Balliol in the Tower of
London.
1297 11th September - William Wallace lead
about 15,000 Scots against an English army,
about 30,000 strong, that were on route to the
English held Stirling Castle. The Scots won
that Battle by making the most of the boggy
terrain and old narrow Stirling Bridge.
1298 - William Wallace’s army was defeated
by a massive English army led by Edward I at
Falkirk. Wallace escaped that Battle only to be
captured in Glasgow 5th August 1305, Executed
in London 18 days later.
1314 - Robert the Bruce's brother, Edward
Bruce, besieged Stirling Castle that was under
the control of English forces.
1314 June - an English army travels north to
confront the Scots forces besieging Stirling
Castle.
1314 June 23rd - the Scots army led by
Robert the Bruce, engaged the English led by
King Edward II (son of Edward I who died in
1307) in the area of Bannockburn, 2 miles south
of Stirling Castle.
The Scots army was said to be around 7,000
men, the English about 12,000 men.
The Bruce had selected this area for the
Battle as it was narrow with waterways,
woodland and hills, an ideal area for a smaller
army to have a chance in defeating a larger
army.
The Scots set about rearranging the Terrain
by blocking roads and digging pits with spikes
to help combat the large number of English
Cavalry.
The Scots also trained with Schiltroms,
large circles of men with 15ft Pikes, then
positioned themselves where trees gave cover
from English Archers.
On the first day of the Battle, the English
Knights charged the Scots Schiltroms on a
number of occasions, each time resulting in a
large number of English casualties.
During a lull in the Battle, The Bruce took
a Pony down close to the English forces to view
their strength. A young English Knight named
Henry De Bohun recognized The Bruce, so set off
on his Heavy Horse with his Lance aimed at the
Scots King.
The Bruce held his ground until the last
second, then turned his Pony to the side, stood
up on his stirrups, and split open the young
Knight's head with a mighty blow from his
Battle Axe.
The following day, the English Cavalry began
another series of charges at the Scots
Schiltroms. These attacks again led to a large
number of English casualties.
The English Archers managed to get into a
good position during the Cavalry attacks, but
began hitting their own Knights as well as the
Scots.
Before the Scots could advance to finnish
off the English, The Bruce gave the order for
his Cavalry to charge out Woodlands to scatter
the English Archers.
With the English Archers fleeing the Scots
Cavalry, the English Cavalry retreating, and
Scots forces pursuing the English troops,
Edward II was led from the Battlefield for his
own safety.
The English forces that survived, set off
back to England.
The Scots soon took control of Stirling
Castle and demolished its defenses so the
English could not use it as a stronghold
again.
The Scotland / England war continued for a
further 14 years, until the treaty of Edinburgh
was signed 17th March 1328. The Bruce then
became King of an Independent Scotland.
The Bruce died at Cardross, probably from
leprosy 7th June 1329.
1932 - the National Trust for Scotland
acquired land at the Battle of Bannockburn.
1960 and 1965 - more land was acquired for
the creation of a Visitor Centre and
Memorial.
1960s - the original Visitor Centre is
built.
1964 - the Memorial and Statue of King
Robert the Bruce are built.
2014 - the new Visitor Centre is built.
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