Stirling, Scotland

Stirling

We rented an Enterprise car from Glasgow and drove to Stirling. It was an easy drive and only took about 25 minutes. When we got to Stirling, it was easy to see the William Wallace Monument on the hill (above photo), so we followed it and the signs to the monument. We pulled into the parking lot and went into the gift shop which has a free shuttle up the hill to the monument.

Wiliiam Wallace Monument The National Wallace Monument is 220 feet tall on the top of the wooded slopes of Abbey Craig overlooking Stirling. There are 246 steps to the top of the tower, which of course gives wonderful views of the countryside. The monument is located just outside Stirling - and is signposted from the City Centre and from the A91.

It was in 1296 that Edward I of England thought he had Scotland under his control because the Scottish King John was in exile in France. He had thought that without Sir William Wallace that he would be able to dominate the Scots in the same way he dominated the Welsh. The English killed Wallace's wife and brother, but Wallace marshalled a well-disciplined fighting force. On September 11, 1297 Wallace outwitted a much larger English army and beat them at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Wiliiam Wallace Sword Wallace was later defeated at Falkirk (in 1298) and then was betrayed and executed in London. His spirit though could not be extinguished and in 1314 King Robert the Bruce led the Scots to freedom at the Battle of Bannockburn. In the 1850's there was a tide of Nationalism sweeping over the world and, in Scotland, one of its expressions was to build a monument to the country's national hero. Money was raised throughout Europe and donations poured in from expatriates on every continent. The monument was completed in 1869 and later the Hall of Heroes was added.

We took the shuttle to the monument and decided to pay £6.00 to climb the 246 stairs to the top of the monument. At the desk, you pay for your climb and then get a personal handset to guide you through Wallace's life corresponding to the exhibits on each floor. You start climbing the stairs thinking that you will be climbing straight stairs but then they start to curve and you have to climb squished against the wall so your feet fit on the triangular-shaped stairs!

Wiliiam Wallace Monument After about 60 steps, you get to the first floor which has William Wallace's sword and scenes from his trial. Then you go up another 65 steps and reach the Hall of Heroes where you will find statues of Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Rabbie Burns, Adam Smith, and Sir Walter Scott. Then you climb another 65 steps and you come to the 3rd floor which has an exhibit showing the challenges of fundraising and building the monument. Then you climb the last 56 steps and reach the top of the monument with beautiful views of Stirling. It was freeeeeeezing cold on the top and the wind chill must have made it about -30F! After we took a few pictures, my cousin said that she was taking the elevator down. I said, "Thank God! I don't want to be stuck on those tiny, winding stairs when we have to pass people coming up!." Then she laughed and said that she was kidding, there wasn't an elevator. Argh!!! Joke was on me! So bitterly, I started the descend hugging the wall of the winding staircase!

Braveheart Statue

After the climb, we went down to the gift shop to find mom - who had been flirting with the employees the whole time we were climbing. We bought scottish fudge, toffee, and Wallace souveniers. Then we waited for the shuttle and went back to the car. One of the monument staff gave us directions to a good pub for lunch, so we headed out.

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