The moorland of the Jacobites' last battlefield victory, fought in a winter storm on 17 January 1746.
The largest Jacobite army
After retreating from England, the Jacobites returned to Scotland and besieged Stirling. A government army under General Henry Hawley advanced from Edinburgh. On 17 January 1746 the forces met on Falkirk Muir in rain, darkness and confusion.
A victory not exploited
The Jacobites drove much of the government force from the field, making Falkirk Muir their last victory. Command became disordered and the result was not exploited. The army abandoned the siege of Stirling and moved north, where it was defeated at Culloden three months later.
The second Battle of Falkirk
This battle is also catalogued as Falkirk II. It must not be confused with Edward I's defeat of William Wallace near Falkirk in 1298. The modern site is a dispersed landscape with a memorial and limited formal interpretation rather than a staffed attraction.
What to look for while you're here
- The ridge and moorland that shaped a battle fought in poor visibility.
- The commemorative monument, while remembering that the action covered a wider area.
- Any interpretation explicitly dated 1746 — the essential distinction from Falkirk 1298.
Before you go
- There is no staffed battlefield visitor centre at present.
- Interpretation is limited and the action covered a wider landscape than the monument.