Things to do in Scotland – ten historic Scottish battlefields

A visitor guide to ten historic battlefields in Scotland.

1: Stirling Bridge (11 September 1297)
The site of a famous victory for Scotland when the forces of Andrew de Moray and William Wallace defeated the English at Stirling Bridge. The battlefield is overlooked by the National Wallace Monument, built in the 1860s to the memory of William Wallace.
Stirling, FK9 5LF; tel: 01786 472140.

2: Roslin (24 February 1303)
A battle of the First War of Scottish Independence where Scottish troops gained victory over the English army. The battlefield is at Roslin in Midlothian, where a monument cairn marks the battle site.

3: Loudon Hill (10 May 1307)
The site of a victory of the troops of Robert the Bruce over the English – Bruce’s first major victory in battle.
Loudon Hill battlefield is in East Ayrshire.

4: Bannockburn (24 June 1314)

The site in Stirling where the forces of King Robert the Bruce triumphed over King Edward II of England, winning freedom for the Scots. Visitors can explore the battlefield year-round at the Bannockburn Visitor Centre.
Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Glasgow Road, Stirling FK7 0LJ; tel: 0844 493 2139.

5: Glenlivet (3 October 1594)
The location of the Battle of Glenlivet, fought 2.5 miles east of the village of Glenlivet. In the fighting, the forces of the Earl of Huntly routed those of the Earl of Argyll, despite Argyll’s numerical superiority of 10,000 men compared to Huntly’s 2,000 troops.
Glenlivet, Speyside. Visitor information tel: 0845 859 1006.

6: Dunbar (3 September 1650)
A battlefield 28 miles east of Edinburgh where Scottish Covenanters faced English Parliamentarians under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. The Scots were defeated and were pursued by English troops as they fled.
Dunbar, East Lothian (A1087 road) – halfway between Edinburgh and Berwick on Tweed.

7: Killiecrankie (27 July 1689)

A battlefield in the Perth & Kinross district where Jacobite clans supporting King James VII of Scotland (or King James II of England) fought troops supporting King William of Orange – with victory going to the Jacobite side.
Landmarks at the site of battle are Soldier’s Leap rock, Graham of Claverhouse’s stone and the graves of John Graham and Barthould Balfour.
The battlefield is one mile northwest of Killiecrankie village.

8: Glenshiel (10 June 1719)
A battle in the West Highlands between Jacobite and Spanish troops, who were defeated by government forces. The battle is sometimes known as The Nineteen’ and was the last time that British and foreign troops were engaged on fighting on the mainland.
The battlefield is seven miles south east of Shiel Bridge and landmarks include Spanish Hill and Pass of the Spaniards.
Glen Shiel village is in the north west Highlands of Scotland, postcode IV40.

9: Prestonpans (21 September 1745)
The site of the first conflict of the Jacobite Rising of 1745, with Jacobite troops emerging victorious over government troops. A cairn marks the site of the battle, which is close to the town of Prestonpans near Edinburgh.

10: Culloden (16 April 1746)
The site near Inverness where Jacobite forces were defeated by government troops in the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Visitors can tour the battlefield and see the clan stone walkway commemorating those who died, and learn more about Culloden at the visitor centre.
Culloden Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor, Inverness IV2 5EU; tel: 0844 493 2159.


(Bannockburn image copyright Kim Traynor)