OFF THE BEATEN PATH

The Bannockburn Heritage Center is located on the south edge of Stirling and commemorates the Battle of Bannockburn, perhaps the most important victory of the Scots over an invading English army on 24 June 1315. The fact that the battle took place and that it resulted in Scottish victory which led to the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh and Northampton in 1328, wherein the Regency of Edward III renounced English claims over Scotland (rather briefly since Edward III overturned the treaty in 1333). There are major debates about virtually everything involved in the battle and what it did or did not accomplish.

The Bannockburn Heritage Center built in the late 1960s is located on the site which is traditionally believed to be the battlefield (although like most other things relative to the battle, this is contested as well).

The heritage center contains a number of exhibits within the building itself while outside the building, a short walk away stands an rotunda in which stands a statue of Robert the Bruce.

The rotunda under ominous skies






The Statue of Robert the Bruce astride his horse






The sign on the statue






One of the exhibits in which there is a model of a reconstruction of Robert the Bruce's facial features






Some reconstructions of the period

Anyone going to Stirling to see Stirling Castle, should certainly allow enough time to go to the Bannockburn Heritage Center.

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