 SCOTLAND AT WAR
Colourful clan gatherings, famous Scottish regiments and many folk ballads and pipers' tunes of glory are all reminders of Scotland's dabblings in warfare and strife. Scotland's countryside, moreover, bristles with memorials to the Covenanters who martyred themselves during the 'killing times', and with monuments to the Jacobite struggles. Plenty of evidence survives, too, of the resistance by Bruce, Wallace et al against English domination. Every 'son of Donald' knows about Glencoe, and people with Jacobite sentiments still lament Culloden. In modern times, Scapa Flow was an important naval base during the First World War of the Germany navy's mass 'scuttle'. BANNOCKBURN
LOCATION - 2m S OF STIRLING, CENTRAL HISTORICAL PERIOD - 14TH CENTURY BRUCE'S STONES
LOCATION - 6m W OF NEW GALLOWAY, AND N SIDE OF LOCH TROOL, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY CULLODENLOCATION - 5m E OF INVERNESS, HIGHLAND HISTORICAL PERIOD - 18TH CENTURY GLENCOELOCATION - A82, LOCHABER, HIGHLAND HISTORICAL PERIOD - 17TH CENTURY
A slim Celtic cross commemorates MacIain, Chief of Glencoe, who fell with his people in the massacre, which was the result of clan rivalry, and of the unwillingness of MacIain, chief of the MacDonalds, to sign an oath of allegiance with William of Orange in return for a pardon. MacIain wrote to the exiled King James VII for permission to take the oath. He received it, but left his submission at Inveraray to the last minute, and eventually took the oath five days after the deadline of New Year's Day, 1692. Sir John Dalrymple, the Secretary of State, ordered the clan MacDonald to be exterminated. Captain Robert Campbell of Glenyon did his dirty work for him. He led the Argyll army into the glen on February 1 and asked MacIain for hospitality. This he got, but 12 days later the slaughter began. MacIain was shot in the back as he got out of bed; his wife was beaten to death; and his children and old folk butchered. Many escaped, but most of those died in the cold. Glencoe, however, is not all blood and guts; it is the spiritual home of many a mountaineer and hill-walker. Although Dickens called it 'perfectly terrible…an awful place…scores of glens high up, which form such haunts as you might imagine yourself wandering in, the very height and madness of a fever', it provides some of the finest climbing and walking terrain in Scotland. In 1976 the Leishman Memorial Centre, a laboratory for research into mountain safety, was opened at Achnacon on land bought from the Forestry Commission. The Trust now owns 14,200 acres of Glencoe. One of the attractions is Ossian's Cave, associated with the legends of the ancient Scottish bard. It is accessible by climbing 200 feet on the face of Aonach Dubh, the shoulder of Bidean nam bian. Facilities include a ranger service, an information centre, a snack bar, Trust shop, exhibitions, picnic area, and facilities for disabled people. GLENFINNANLOCATION - A830, 18m W OF FORT WILLIAM, HIGHLAND HISTORICAL PERIOD - 18TH CENTURY KILLENCRANKIELOCATION - A9, 3m N OF PITLOCHRY, TAYSIDE HISTORICAL PERIOD - 17TH CENTURY
SCAPA FLOW VISITOR CENTRELOCATION - THE PUMPHOUSE, LYNESS, ORKNEY HISTORICAL PERIOD - 20TH CENTURY |
Bannockburn
is the name that has been on the lips of generations of Scottish
schoolchildren. The name represents Scotland's most important
victory over the English - in 1314. The battlefield, where
Robert the Bruce routed the forces of Edward II and won freedom
for the Scottish people, is one of the most historic sites
in Britain. Bannockburn Heritage Centre stands a few yards
from the famous Borestone site, the reputed location of Bruce's
command post. It is enclosed by the rotunda focusing on the
approach route of the English army to Stirling Castle. The
rotunda was opened by the Queen in 1964, when she unveiled
a statue to Scotland's most celebrated king. The centre displays
an exhibition relating the story of the battle in three languages,
and an exhibition entitled The Kingdom of the Scots. Facilities
include a tea room and restaurant, a sales area and access
for wheelchairs.
The
stone at the entrance to Glen Trool, three miles north of
Newton Stewart, is a massive granite reminder of Robert the
Bruce's first victory over the English in March 1307 in the
run-up to Bannockburn. It commands a fine view of Loch Trool
and the Galloway Hills, and is the traditional starting point
for the gruelling jaunt up Merrick, at 2764 feet the highest
mountain in southern Scotland. The stone at Moss Raploch by
the A712 is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland,
and marks the spot where Bruce defeated the English forces
in his initial drive towards Scottish independence.
Culloden
was the scene of the last major battle on mainland Britain-which
ended the Stuart dreams of regaining the throne. On 16 April
1746, Prince Charles Edward Stuart and his Jacobite army were
trounced by government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland-within
40 minutes of the start of the fighting. Troops fought on
moorland around Old Leanach Cottage, which survived the fray
and has been refurbished with period furnishings.Visitors
to Culloden can view several memorials. The visitor centre
has a colourful historical display and an audio-visual programme
in six languages (English, French, Gaelic, German, Italian
and Japanese). There is an auditorium, study room bookshop
and self-service restaurant. There are toilets for disabled
people, and an induction loop for people with hearing difficulties.
A wheelchair is also available.
Mention
Glencoe in the right company and it sends a shiver down the
spine or glazes the eyes. The awe-inspiring glen is as well
known as Gretna Green and the Loch Ness Monster; in fact it
is known around the world over as the site where the Campbells
massacred the MacDonalds in 1692. 
This
monument, set in spectacular Highland scenery at the head
of Loch Shiel, commemorates the raising of Prince Charles
Edward Stuart's standard on 19 August 1745. It was the last-ditch
attempt to put a Stuart back on the throne of the United Kingdom.
The monument was erected by Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale
in 1815 in tribute to the Highlanders who died in the Jacobite
cause. The figure of a clansman stands on top of the famous
tower. In the visitor centre there are displays of the Prince's
campaign from Glenfinnan to Culloden. The annual Glenfinnan
Games take place in August. Facilities at Culloden include
a snack bar, a shop and access for wheelchairs.
If
Culloden marked the end of the Jacobite cause, Killencrankie
was the beginning. The battle took place at a wooded gorge
a mile from Trust property in 1689 and government troops led
by King William were routed. The Jacobite forces were led
by John Graham of Claverhouse, who was mortally wounded in
battle. He is forever remembered in the popular song, 'Bonnie
Dundee'. One government soldier fleeing from battle made a
spectacular leap across the river worthy of a long-jump champion.
The place is now known as Soldiers Leap. The wooded gorge
was one of Queen Victoria's favourite spots, and there are
numerous interesting walks. The pass is on the network of
Garry-Tummel walks, which cover a distance of 20 miles. The
visitor centre features the battle and the natural history
of the area. There is a ranger service, a shop and snack bar,
as well as access for disabled people. 
Scapa
Flow around Orkney was the scene of the surrender of the German
Fleet in 1919, and a major naval anchorage in both world wars.
The centre at Lyness, a wartime naval base, is a tribute to
the army personnel who lost their lives during the wars, and
houses an extensive collection of wartime artefacts and memorabilia.
The Pumphouse itself was a hub of activity during the Second
World War, when Scapa Flow was a 'Category A defended port'.
Visitors can see the machinery which was used to heat and
pump oil. Within the forecourt of the centre are several items
which bear witness to the historic events around Orkney during
the wars. There is a massive propellor from HMS Hampshire,
which struck a mine off Birsay in 1916, with the loss of all
but twelve of her crew. Among the victims were Lord Kitchener
of Khartoum, the Minister for War.
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