The Wallace Way

Around 10,000 years ago Scotland was coming to the end of its last Ice Age.
 
Before that, ice sheets up to several kilometres thick had covered a large portion of the northern hemisphere. As the glaciers moved east a process of erosion took place, and the ice sheets picked up rock fragments which scoured out the softer areas of land, but parted around the harder rocks.
 
The result was that small areas of very hard rock were left behind, including the Abbey Craig, Craigforth, and Castle Hill – the rock on which Stirling Castle stands. The harder rock protected some of the softer rock behind it, leaving what is known geologically as a Crag and Tail – a steep cliff with a gentle slope leading down from it.

After the Ice Age, water levels rose to such an extent that most of the Forth Valley was under water, and in fact the Abbey Craig was one of the few high areas of land which rose above the high sea level.
 
In the year 5,000 BC the bones of a whale were washed up on the prehistoric shoreline at the Carse of Stirling, with another found just below the Abbey Craig, near the eastern entrance to the Airthrey Estate.
 
You can find out more information and see the Carse of Stirling whale bones at The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

Scotland’s first farmers started to chop down trees to grow crops such as wheat and barley. They also started to domesticate animals, and they would have kept pigs, sheep, and cattle for meat, milk, wool and leather. This was the time when people started to settle down in one place, building permanent houses, burial mounds, and stone circles.
 
The early farmers would still have gone hunting and gathering just like their predecessors, but the majority of their time would have been spent working the land.
 
A polished axe belonging to one of these early farmers was discovered on the Abbey Craig and is now on display in The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

Scotland’s first metalworkers were direct descendants of farmers who learned new skills from settlers from mainland Europe. They began working in bronze (from around 2,000 BC), and would later work with gold.

Prehistoric finds uncovered by archaeologists on the Abbey Craig have included a hoard of bronze spears.

The use of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, led to an increase in trade. This was because tin had to be brought from Cornwall – the only place in Britain where it is found in any quantity. This trade was mainly carried out by sea, although there is evidence that by around 1,000 BC craftsmen had learned how to make carts and wheels. Scotland’s oldest wheel is from the Carse of Stirling at Blair Drummond Moss.

Over the years people from the north of Britain travelled far and wide, and many other people have come to the land now known as Scotland. Some came in peace to trade, while others came to invade, and to expand their empires. All of them passed by the Abbey Craig as Stirling was the only place to cross north or south. Over the years Stirling was invaded by Romans, Picts and Vikings, each of whom have been portrayed in this carving.
 
Did you know… A fort was built on Abbey Craig around 500 AD to resist invasion, then destroyed by fire 100-200 years later. So intense was the fire that the stone melted and became fused, this is known as a vitrified fort. The fort was refortified around 900 AD to resist the Vikings!

The Abbey Craig is part of a great green corridor – connecting open spaces and woodlands across, along, and around the city of Stirling. This makes Stirling a great area for wildlife and biodiversity.
 
It is home to everything from microscopic minibeasts and fungi, up to large flora and fauna such as massive Oak trees, Badgers, Red and Roe Deer, and Red Squirrels – and of course all this green space makes it a great place for people too!
 
From the viewpoints on the Abbey Craig and from The Crown at the top of The Monument you can see just how green the surrounding land is.

Stirling is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’, and historically its location was of strategic importance, as it was the main entry point to the north of Scotland.
 
In 1297 there was an old wooden bridge across the River Forth. On the 11th September that year, the Scots army – led by William Wallace and Andrew de Moray – waited on the north side of the River Forth until more than half the English army had made it across the narrow bridge before springing their trap. The Scots surrounded the English, leaving them immobile in the loop of the river, and blocked the north end of the bridge, cutting off any hope of escape. The English soldiers who had crossed the river were trapped and slaughtered. Those who remained on the south banks retreated to Berwick.

Read more about The Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Much of the stone used to build The National Wallace Monument was quarried on site, but it would still have taken a lot of hard work to get it to the top of the Abbey Craig. A small railway track was laid for the workmen to cart equipment and materials up and down the 310ft hill.
 
On 27th June 1864 William Munn, the foreman of the masons, was descending in one of the carts when one of the bolts in the chain gave way. The cart gained such great speed that he was thrown from the vehicle and sadly lost his life to the injuries he incurred.
 
Did you know… The Abbey Craig is likely to have been the headquarters for the Scottish army. It offered William Wallace and Andrew de Moray a great vantage point of the land where the famous battle took place!

The Hall of Heroes is one of the most distinctive chambers inside The National Wallace Monument. It recognised the achievements of Scots who have made important contributions to society in Scotland – and in countries all around the world.
 
The first busts – of Robert Burns, and of King Robert the Bruce, were installed in the gallery in 1886. The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated the bust of Robert Burns, and the bust of King Robert the Bruce was donated by the Marquess of Bute.
 
Over the years more busts were donated, and by 1907 there were 16 individuals altogether commemorated in the gallery.

Frank Barnwell and Harold Barnwell were born in Lewisham, London, but moved to Balfron aged just 2 and 4, in 1882. In 1907 the brothers set up the Grampian Engineering and Motor Company in Causewayhead and it was here where they built and finished their first aircraft in 1908 – quick work!
 
Unfortunately, this plane and their several other attempts had one major problem – they couldn’t get off the ground. However, in July 1909 this all changed when one of their aircraft flew to the great height of 13ft and landed after 80 yards in the fields of Causewayhead. This was Scotland’s first powered flight.
 
You can visit the sculpture which was commissioned to commemorate Scotland’s first powered flight – and which is located by the Causewayhead Roundabout, just below Hillfoots Road.

The National Wallace Monument was built between 1861-1869, to commemorate Sir William Wallace.

John Thomas Rochead won the competition to design the Monument, with his Scottish Baronial style design.

The Monument has 246 steps, and stands at 220ft high. The design features a crown spire, turrets, and gun loops, which are traditionally found in Scottish castles and other ancient structures.

Inside The Monument there are three exhibition galleries which tell the story of Scotland’s National Hero and his legacy.