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The Wallace Monument is two and a half miles
northeast of Stirling in central Scotland, built
in 1869 in honour of Sir William Wallace who
led a Scots Army to victory over the English
here in 1297.
The Monument can be visited in Summer,
9.30am to 5.00pm. Winter, 10am to 4pm, with an
entrance fee. Postcode: FK9 5LF
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Click On Map for area
Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is from traveling out from
Stirling with the Monument on top of the 364ft
high Abbey Craig.
Hop On Hop Off Buses run between Stirling
Train /Bus Station, Stirling
Castle, & the Wallace Monument.
Bus
Information
The Battle of Bannockburn
Experience is 3 miles south, the tour buses
used to run there as well, but you may need to
use a local bus just now.
There is a huge Car Park, Visitor Centre,
and Cafe below the Monument.
You can Walk up the Steep Woodland Path, or
take the Courtesy Bus up the Steep Winding
Road.
The image right is of the Wallace Monument
from the Path up from the Visitor Centre.
The Monument was completed in 1869 to
designs of the Architect John Thomas Rochead,
at 220ft high with 246 steps leading to the
Viewing Gallery at the top.
The Spiral Staircase is steep and narrow.
There are Three Rooms to visit on the first,
second and third floors.
The image right is of the second floor room
with the Wallace Sword. The Sword is 5 feet 4
inches in height. This Sword has changed hands
many times, and restoration work was carried
out for King James IV of Scotland. The
Secretary of State for War arranged for the
Sword to be transferred to the Wallace Monument
in 1888.
Some people have now claimed this may not be
the actual Sword of William Wallace.
The Viewing Gallery at the top has fantastic
views all around. It can also be very Windy at
times, as the Viewing Gallery is about 550ft
above the Town below.
The image right is of the Viewing Gallery
looking east towards the Ochil Hills, with the
highest hill being the 2,363ft Ben Cleuch,
with a good Trail to the top. You can also see
the Hills at Edinburgh 36 miles southeast.
The view west towards Stirling and Stirling
Castle also shows Stirling Old Stone
Bridge, and where the Original Wooden Bridge
from the Battle of
Stirling Bridge was situated. The Old Bridge
and Battlefield are where football fields are
now.
William Wallace led the Scots to victory
over a huge English Army here 11th September
1297.
William Wallace History
Variations of the name Wallace can be found
in records from the 1100s as Landowners in
Ayrshire and Renfrewshire /South of
Glasgow.
Families gained Land and Wealth by
supporting Kings in Battle. The Braver in
Battle, the more Land and Wealth they acquired.
Landowners had many Workers on their Land, with
all these Workers available to Fight for the
Landowner and King at any time. This allowed
Scottish Kings to raise Armies up to 15,000
men.
William Wallace was born around 1270,
thought to be at Riccarton by Kilmarnock in
Ayrshire, with the family Land sometimes
referred to as Ellerslie.
1286, the death of the Scottish King
Alexander III, and that of his sole Heir, the
child Princess Margaret in 1290, left Scotland
without a Monarch.
1291, King Edward I of England begins to
pressure Scottish Landowners into giving him
their support. The documents these Scots
signed, were referred to as the Ragman
Rolls.
Many Scottish Landowners refused to support
the English, with many executed as a
result.
Some Wallace branches gave support to the
English King, and some refused. This led to
some members of the Wallace Clan being
Executed.
1291 - 1297, William Wallace is reported to
have been involved in a number of disputes and
small Battles with English Troops, and Scots
supporting the English King. These Battles were
said to be in and around the Towns of Dundee,
Irvine, Ayr, Perth, and Lanark. This time saw
Wallace gain a large number of Followers.
1297 May, William Wallace is first recorded
in History after killing William de Heselrig,
an Englishman serving as High Sheriff of
Lanark. This is thought to have been revenge
for the execution of relations of Wallace.
1297 June, Wallace is recorded as taking
part in a raid on the Royal Residence town of
Scone.
1297 early September, Wallace and Andrew
Moray from the north of Scotland joined forces
so they could attack a massive English Army
traveling up from England to support the
English Troops that were in control of Stirling
Castle.
Wallace and Moray had around 15,000 Men
between them. The English were said to number
20,000 to 30,000.
1297 11th September, the Battle of Stirling
Bridge takes place at the narrow Wooden Bridge
with Wetlands all around. The Scots Forces
allowed about 5,000 of the English Troops and
Knights to cross the Bridge, then made their
Attack.
Most of the English that crossed the Bridge
were Killed in Battle. The remainder of the
English Forces destroyed the Bridge before
returning to England.
Moray died a few days later from Wounds he
received during the Battle.
1297 November, Wallace led a raid into
Northumberland and Cumberland in England. On
his return, he was Knighted at the Town of
Selkirk.
1298 22nd July, the Battle of Falkirk ended
with the Scots led by Wallace defeated in
Battle. Wallace survived the Battle then went
into hiding.
1305 5th August, Wallace is captured in
Glasgow, then taken to London to stand Trial
for a number of offences including Treason.
1305 23rd August, Wallace was tried in
Westminster Hall and found Guilty of all
Charges. He was then taken to Elms at
Smithfield where he was Hung, Drawn,
Disemboweled, had his Head hacked off, and his
Body cut into four pieces.
Pieces of his Body were then sent to be
displayed around the country at Berwick,
Newcastle, Stirling, and Perth to show how the
English would deal with Uprisings.
1314 June 23rd & 24th, Scottish forces
led by Robert the Bruce, defeated an English
Army led by King Edward II in the area of
Bannockburn, about 2 miles south of Stirling
Castle, leading to Bruce becoming King of a
free Scotland.
1800s, famous Writers such a Sir Walter
Scott revived interest in Scottish history.
This led to fundraising to build Monuments
around the Country in honour of Sir William
Wallace.
1832, the Wallace Tower
in the town of Ayr was completed at 115ft
high.
1855, Barnweil Tower
is built between Ayr and Kilmarnock for Wallace
at 60ft high.
1869, the Wallace Monument at Stirling was
completed at 220ft high, now known as The
National Wallace Monument.
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