Wallace Monument

Overview

The National Wallace Monument is a popular tourist attraction because of its “Braveheart” associations. The tower is built on the spot where Wallace is believed to have waited and watched the English advance before descending to attack them during the Battle of Stirling Bridge (11 September 1297).

The Wallace Monument is divided into 3 main areas. The 1st floor is an exhibition about the life of William Wallace with a slightly spooky figure of William Wallace telling the story of his struggle for Scottish Independence. The exhibition also has information boards that tell the true story behind the “Braveheart” legend, and you can see the dauntingly large sword that William Wallace allegedly used in battle, but the evidence for this is debatable.

The 2nd floor houses a less exciting display of 16 marble busts of important Scots whose achievements are explained with the audio guides. The 3rd floor tells the story of how the monument came to be built in the 1870’s.

If you make it all the way up the 246 steps of the spiral stairs to the top of Wallace Monument, you will be rewarded with a view over the site of Wallace’s famous battle at Stirling Bridge, but please be aware that the bridge has long since gone.

In terms of how much you get to see, we think this is an over priced attraction that is a tourist trap cashing in on the “Braveheart” film. If you really want to get a feel for medieval Scotland, you should drive to Doune Castle which is only 6 miles west of Stirling on the road to Crianlarich, but Doune Castle is now very busy with "Outlander" fans.