A Victorian tower on Abbey Craig overlooking the ground of Wallace and Andrew de Moray's victory at Stirling Bridge.
The victory below
From Abbey Craig, William Wallace and Andrew de Moray watched the English army approach the narrow bridge across the Forth in September 1297. Their victory at Stirling Bridge made Wallace Guardian of Scotland, though Moray was mortally wounded and died soon afterwards.
A monument, not a medieval site
The tower was built between 1861 and 1869, funded by public subscription during a Victorian revival of interest in Scotland's national past. It commemorates Wallace from a landscape connected to his greatest victory, but it is not a surviving structure from his lifetime.
The Wallace Sword
The monument displays the large two-handed sword traditionally associated with Wallace. It was first recorded at Dumbarton Castle in 1505, two centuries after the battle, so the association is powerful tradition rather than an unbroken contemporary record.
What to look for while you're here
- The view toward Stirling Bridge and the winding River Forth.
- The Wallace Sword, displayed with its later documented history.
- The Hall of Heroes, showing how later generations constructed a national pantheon.
Before you go
- The monument is reached uphill and contains a long internal stair climb.
- Check daily opening and last-entry times before travel.