Stirling Bridge, the Wallace Monument and Bannockburn while its centre is closed

Two battles of the Wars of Scottish Independence were fought within a few kilometres of Stirling Castle. On 11 September 1297 a Scottish army under Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated an English army at Stirling Bridge. On 23 and 24 June 1314 the Scots won again at Bannockburn. The places are still there to visit, but one of them has changed this autumn, so read this before you plan a day around them.

First, Bannockburn's visitor centre is shut

The National Trust for Scotland closed the Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre on 1 October 2026 for a refurbishment. Central FM reported in August 2026 that the work will cost £3 million. The Trust's own page says the centre "is closed for renovations and will reopen in mid-2028". Do not travel out expecting the indoor battle experience.

What stays open, according to the Trust, is the monuments and grounds, all year and every day. That means the rotunda and the mounted statue of Robert the Bruce, both renovated for the battle's 700th anniversary, and the open ground around them. The site is on Glasgow Road at the southern edge of the city, about 3 km south of the centre by our map pins, at postcode FK7 0LJ.

Stirling Bridge: the bridge you can stand on is not the bridge of the battle

The Old Bridge north of the Old Town is the obvious place to start, but be careful what you claim for it. Wikipedia says the stone bridge was built on rubble foundations around 1500, and that it replaced earlier wooden bridges, including the one on which the 1297 battle was fought. So you are standing near the battle's crossing, not on it. The stone bridge has its own history: during the Jacobite rising of 1745 one arch was destroyed to slow the Jacobite army, and it was rebuilt in 1749. It has been a scheduled monument since 1921 and is free at any hour.

The Wallace Monument

Across the river, the Victorian tower on the Abbey Craig is the National Wallace Monument. Wikipedia says the foundation stone was laid in 1861 and the tower was finished in 1869 to a design by John Thomas Rochead, 67 metres high, and that the hill is said to be where Wallace watched Edward I's army gather before the battle. Stirling Council runs it.

Inside, the Monument's own site describes three exhibition galleries and the Crown at the top, with 360-degree views, reached by a narrow spiral staircase of 246 steps. There is no lift; the toilets and a small lounge are at entrance level. Wikipedia lists the Wallace Sword, 1.63 metres long, and a Hall of Heroes of busts of famous Scots among the exhibits.

Practical points from the Monument itself: book online to secure an entry time, last admission is one hour before closing, and parking is free, with a shuttle bus of about five minutes from the car park or a walk up. First's 52 and UL buses stop outside the Monument and run from Goosecroft Road, opposite the railway station. We could not read the Monument's opening-times or prices pages on 11 October 2026, so check both on its booking page.

Cambuskenneth Abbey

If you are on the north side of the river anyway, Cambuskenneth Abbey is about 1.3 km east of the city centre by our map pins, across the Forth in the village the Stirling City Heritage Trust says locals call The Abbey. Historic Environment Scotland opens it free from 1 April to 30 September, 9:30 to 17:30, and closes it for the winter, so it is shut until April 2027. HES warns that access is across farmland that can be muddy.

A route that links them

A Ramblers group-walk listing describes a seven-mile linear route that strings most of this together: from the city centre up to the castle esplanade and round Gowan Hill to the Beheading Stone, back down the Back Walk, past the station and across the footbridge to Cambuskenneth Abbey, then along to Hillfoots Road, past the Wallace Monument and on to the University of Stirling. Bannockburn is in the opposite direction, so treat it as a separate trip by bus or car.