Stirling from the Castle.

After work today we visited Argyll's Lodging and Stirling Castle. As we live close by and have Historic Scotland memberships we visit the castle on a fairly regularly basis when we have an hour to kill. It never disappoints.

Today was our first visit to Argyll's Lodging and we were very impressed. I recommend it.

This view is looking over Stirling towards the Wallace Monument. Completed in 1869 at a cost of £18,000, the sandstone monument stands 220 ft tall on the Abbey Craig, a volcanic crag above Cambuskenneth Abbey. It is from this viewpoint it is said that Wallace watched the gathering of the army of King Edward I of England, just before the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Stirling Bridge can be seen in the foreground. On 11 September 1297, the forces of Andrew Moray along with Wallace defeated the combined English forces of John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey and Hugh de Cressingham. The Scots waited as 5,400 English and Welsh infantry plus several hundred cavalry made slow progress across the bridge then ordered the attack. The Scots spearmen came down from the high ground in rapid advance towards the bridge and quickly seized control of the English bridgehead.

The location of the bridge at the date of the battle is not known with certainty, but four stone piers have been found underwater just north of the present day 15th century bridge, along with man-made stonework on one bank in line with the piers.

Didn't manage to post a blip yesterday so back blipped it today. Hope you'll take time to have a look