The Wallace Monument is Stirling’s famous landmark, seen for miles around. It sits at the top of Abbey Craig and celebrates Scotland’s national hero and guardian of Scotland, William Wallace. The monument is the best place to visit to learn about the legacy of Sir William Wallace and also for fantastic panoramic views over the city of Stirling and beyond.
We’ve visited the National Wallace Monument many times over the years and it’s lovely to see how the monument and it’s surroundings have developed over this time. When we first visited there was no trail of woodcarvings to follow, so we would normally take the minibus to the top. However, there is a fab woodcarving trail that was created when my youngest was just 4 years old and is still doing well.
The exhibits in the monument itself have changed over the years too, with the hall of heroes now featuring female sculptures too.
So what should you expect when you visit the National Wallace Monument?
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Getting To The Wallace Monument
Getting to the William Wallace Monument is really simple. If you have a car it‘s easy to drive to, just to the North East of Stirling above Causewayhead village. There is plenty of parking space at the base of the monument beside the visitor centre.
If you prefer public transport then you can catch the bus from Goosecroft Road opposite the railway station in Stirling. With two regular bus services, look for either the Stirling Sightseeing bus or the number 52, both of which stop outside the monument car park.
There are also various cycle paths that you can use to navigate to the monument from Stirling city centre.
Who Was William Wallace?
So who was William Wallace and why is there a monument to him in Stirling?! He’s a main player in a key point of Scottish history and responsible for much of the resistance during the first war of independence. William Wallace first led a group of resistance fighters to Lanark to kill the English sheriff placed there by Edward I of England. A few months later Wallace and Andrew de Moray (resistance fighter in the North of Scotland) joined forces and fought Edward’s army at the Battle of Stirling bridge. Despite having a significantly smaller army, the Scottish won. This massive victory was a turning point for the Scots, boosting morale and the knowledge that they had the ability to defeat the larger and richer English army.
The monument to William Wallace was built on the Abbey Craig as this is where Wallace and Moray held their troops before the battle of Stirling Bridge. It has a great view to the battle field and was perfect for planning their strategy.
Woodcarving Trail Walk
In 2017 11 woodcarvings were placed in the woodlands on the way up to the Wallace monument. The carvings are designed to take visitors through the history of Stirling and the Abbey Craig from ice age until the monument itself was built. I love the variety of different wood carvings, although the train is possibly their favourite as it’s great for children to play on! Personally I rather like the Stirling Bridge wood carving with the sleek otter in the water.
There are a couple of wood carvings that are great for photo opportunities. Such as the bench where you can put your head in the place of vikings, Picts and Romans. Or just as a bust from one of the monuments rooms.
Just before you reach the Wallace Monument there’s a wood sculpture of the monument. It has a little plinth so you can stand beside it too. I’m impressed at just how detailed it is!
The woodcarving trail is a great way to encourage people to walk up the hill to the monument. Rather than using the minibus. Anything to be more environmentally friendly and get exercise is good in my book!
The National Wallace Monument
This 220 ft tower took eight years to build and was the result of a competition in the 19th century. There were 106 entries to design the Wallace Monument and over £15,000 raised from public contributions to build the national monument. The winning entry of the design that now stands was from Scottish architect John Thomas Rochead.
During the summer there are regular actor performances. Two soldiers from the opposing Scottish and English armies meet after the Battle of Stirling Bridge and clash over opinions. There’s no fighting, but swords are definitely swung around a fair bit!
Afterwards the actors may give you a chance to hold a sword similar to those that would have been used in battle. Both my children were always excited to hold the sword. Although it is a bit too long to hold up! Littlest has an obsession about swords, but I think he was a bit intimidated by the size of this particular one in the photo.
Hall of Arms – Wallace Monument
Inside the tower there are 3 separate floors, each with something different to learn about. The first floor is The Hall of Arms. This is where you can learn about Wallace and de Moray’s triumph at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. This is also where William Wallace’s sword is kept, under a case of course! The animation on this floor can be listened to via headsets in various different languages.
Hall of Heroes in the Wallace Monument
In the Hall of Heroes you can learn about the famous Scottish women and men. There are a total of 16 original busts of famous Scottish men. Then another 2 female busts were added in 2019 to celebrate Scottish women. There is also a display board telling the story of 12 other Scottish heroines who deserve recognition too.
The Royal Chamber of the Wallace Monument
The final floor takes you to the Royal Chamber. Here you can see various weapons that would have been used during battle in Wallace’s time. There is also a great interactive area to create your own shield and take a photo with it on a display set. There is also a large landscape with viewer so that you can learn about the battlefield and important historic landmarks.
The Crown of The Wallace Monument
After visiting the 3 floors you can climb a little further up the spiral staircase to the top of the monument. Take care when climbing the staircase to the top of the tower. On busy days you will need to give way to others going up or down the stairs, and as it’s a tight squeeze it’s best to wait in the entrance of the rooms until it’s clear.
In the crown you can get a great view in all directions, from the Ochil hills to Stirling Castle and beyond. It’s always fun to spot the battleground that Wallace and de Moray fought on. Check the information plaque on the tower for more information on where exactly it was.
Don’t forget to look up and admire the crown of the Wallace Monument. It really is an amazing piece of architecture!
Keeper’s Lodge and Gift Shop
Back down at the base of monument on the ground floor is the Keeper’s Lodge. This is a good place to rest or for less mobile members of your group to wait. There is also a toilet and a great gift shop. You can find souvenirs, Scottish memorabilia and books about Scottish independence and the story of the patriot, William Wallace.
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