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Home , Cambuskenneth Abbey, Deer Abbey, Doune Castle, Dunfermline Abbey, Dunstaffnage Castle, Linlithgow

ROBERT THE BRUCE We fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honour but only and alone for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life. The Declaration of , 6 April 1320 WHO WAS THE HISTORIC THE BRUCE? EXPLORER PASS

Robert the Bruce was one of Feeling inspired by the film? Visiting the Outlaw filming Ideal for groups or individuals visiting the most revered warriors of his Follow in Bruce’s footsteps locations and discovering the real a number of properties, holders can generation. Often referred to as and discover the real stories and story of Robert the Bruce can create visit as many Historic Scotland sites ‘Good King Robert’, he is best locations at the heart of the tale. an intriguing and fascinating theme as they wish – there are many not known for his defeat of the From magnificent castles to imposing for a visit to Scotland. Our Explorer connected to Robert the Bruce to English army under Edward II abbeys, discover the best of Scotland Pass makes it simple to travel around visit in addition to the sites featured at Bannockburn in 1314. as you uncover the life and times the sites that that tell Bruce’s tales, in our trail. Passes can be used as of Bruce across different regions. and is excellent value for money. part of a package or offered as an A original,, optional add-on. follows Robert the Bruce’s battle This period drama was also filmed to regain control after being made at six of our locations, so don’t forget • Includes access to all 77 an outlaw by the King of England to get behind the scenes and visit Historic Scotland attractions for taking the Scottish Crown. the film sets themselves. • Fast track entry to all sites ROBERT’S TRAIL

NORTH & GRAMPIAN

1 3 Postcode AB33 8RA Postcode IV63 6XJ Open summer only Open all year ‘The noblest of northern castles’, Magnificent Urquhart Castle on Kildrummy was owned by the the shores of was 1 Earls of Mar, who were linked to captured by Bruce in 1307 as he Bruce by marriage. After seizing unleashed his fury against the the throne in 1306, Bruce sent his Comyns (Sir Alexander Comyn wife Elizabeth and daughter of had been made Marjorie to Kildrummy for their constable at Urquhart by Edward I safety, but the castle was soon three years earlier). Around 1312, besieged by English forces. In 1335, Bruce gave Urquhart to his favoured Bruce’s sister Christina defended nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph, Kildrummy against a pro-English Earl of , who later led a force under , Earl of Atholl. heroic raid on Castle.

2 4 BALVENIE CASTLE Near Postcode AB55 4GH Open all year Open summer only 2 3 These tranquil Cistercian monastery A wide ditch encircles this striking, ruins were founded by William curtain-walled castle. On 22nd May Comyn, Earl of , in the early 1308, Bruce defeated John Comyn, 1200s. In 1308, the abbey was Earl of Buchan, in battle at , probably sacked when Bruce drove 30 miles south-east of Balvenie William’s grandson John into exile Castle, after which he brutally and ordered Buchan be ravaged stamped out the inhabitants of ‘fra end till end and sparyt nane’. Buchan, which he ‘burned from end to end and spared none’.

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5 ABBEY 6 CATHEDRAL NAVE & PALACE Postcode KY16 9QL Postcode KY12 7PE Open all year Open all year The remains of Scotland’s largest and Some of Scotland’s greatest medieval most magnificent medieval church, monarchs were laid to rest at is a prominent Church. Robert landmark. Bishop William Lamberton the Bruce was buried here in 1329, of St Andrews was the head of the though not before his heart was Scottish church and one of Bruce’s removed to be taken on Crusade. main allies; they were appointed Near the end of his life, Bruce joint Guardians of Scotland in 1298-9, 5 contributed funds for the rebuilding together with Bruce’s rival John of the abbey buildings, which had Comyn. In 1309, Bruce held his 6 been damaged during the Wars of first parliament at the cathedral, Independence. A skeleton, which at and on 5th July 1318 he attended the time was thought to be Bruce’s, the cathedral’s consecration by was found during construction of Lamberton, which had been delayed the new parish church in 1818 and his by the Wars of Independence. name is memorialised in the parapet of the 19th century church tower. PERTHSHIRE, KINROSS & ANGUS

7 Postcode DD11 1EG Open all year At Arbroath Abbey, explore the origins of the famous . Bruce is at the heart of the story of the Declaration, which was dispatched to the from Arbroath in April 1320. 2020 will mark the 700th anniversary of this important event in Scottish , when Scottish nobles swore their independence from England.

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8 CASTLE 10 DUNDONALD CASTLE Postcode KA2 9HD Postcode G82 1JJ Open all year Open all year stood at the heart The second castle at Dundonald of an ancient kingdom covering the was destroyed around 1298, possibly area now known as Strathclyde. by Bruce while . The castle was captured in 1296, The castle’s owner, Walter, the 6th during Edward I’s first campaign in High Steward, fought with Bruce Scotland, but fell back into Scottish at Bannockburn. He married Bruce’s hands after Wallace and Moray’s daughter Marjorie; their son became victory at Bridge in 1297. King Robert II, founder of the Stewart 8 9 There is a myth that Dumbarton may line, the UK’s most enduring royal possibly have been used to imprison dynasty. Visit this mighty hilltop 10 11 after his capture in castle, which also stands on the site 1305, but there is no evidence of this. of Bronze and Iron Age remains. Bruce died nearby in his manor at in 1329. 11 Postcode G71 8BL 9 GLASGOW CATHEDRAL Open all year Postcode G4 0QZ Hotly fought over during the Wars Open all year of Independence, Bothwell Castle Visit Glasgow Cathedral, the spot was captured by Edward I in 1301, where Scotland’s largest city first and remained in English hands began to take shape. The Cathedral until June 1314. In the aftermath was the seat of Bruce’s key ally, of Bannockburn, many of Edward’s Bishop , who helped senior took shelter here. arrange the lifting of his original Bruce sent his brother . here, where he captured some very valuable English prisoners. CENTRAL & WEST 12

12 14 ABBEY 16 Postcode FK8 1EJ Postcode PA76 6SQ Postcode PA37 1PZ Open all year Open all year Open all year Stirling is one of Scotland’s greatest Take the foot ferry to Iona and step Dunstaffnage was the seat of the stone castles. Bruce would have off onto one of Scotland’s most MacDougalls of . They sided been present at the siege of 1304, sacred sites. Angus Og MacDonald, with the Balliols during and after as an ally of Edward I. Stirling Castle a follower of Bruce, is buried here. the Great Cause of 1290–1, which led was also besieged by Bruce’s forces to being selected over 13 in May 1314 which led to the Battle 15 (Robert the Bruce’s of Bannockburn, a turning point in 1m east of Stirling grandfather) as King. After seizing the Wars of Independence and in Open summer only the throne in 1306, Bruce moved the fortunes of Bruce and his foe During the in ruthlessly to eliminate his rivals Edward II of England. The face of 1314, the disaffected Earl of Atholl and enemies. After wiping out the the statue at Bannockburn battlefield led his men against the troops Comyns, largely in the north-east, was modelled on the skull found guarding the Scottish supply depot. he besieged Dunstaffnage in August at Dunfermline. Shortly after the battle, Bruce held 1308. After trapping MacDougall’s 14 a parliament at Cambuskenneth forces at the Pass of Brander, Bruce 13 KILCHURN CASTLE at which those Scots who had pursued them to Dunstaffnage, which Postcode PA33 1AF opposed him were stripped of their he besieged. Despite MacDougall’s Open summer only titles and estates, and he compelled appeal to Edward II for assistance, From a galley on Loch Awe, close landowners to choose between the castle soon fell to Bruce. to where the castle stands today, Scottish and English estates. John MacDougall of Lorne watched Before this, many held lands on his army routed by Bruce’s forces both sides of the Border, leading in the Battle of the Pass of Brander to divided loyalties. In 1326, another 15 in 1308. The Campbells, who had Cambuskenneth parliament agreed supported Bruce, were rewarded the royal line of succession to follow with lands around Loch Awe, Robert, via his daughter Marjorie, replacing MacDougall as Argyll’s which ultimately put the Stewart dominant family. The castle that dynasty on the throne in 1371. stands now came later.

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17 19 PALACE Postcode EH1 2NG Postcode EH49 7AL Open all year Open all year In March 1314, Bruce sent his nephew, Explore the magnificent ruins of Sir Thomas Randolph, , , where a royal to attack the castle. In a daring raid, manor once stood. Edward I made Randolph and his men scaled the Linlithgow his base during his rock and captured the castle. Bruce campaigns of 1296 and 1301, and then had most of it demolished to expanded it in 1302-3. The site prevent it from being useful to the remained in English hands and, in 1310, English. Discover more of this story Edward II spent a week at Linlithgow in the ‘Fight for the Castle’ exhibition. during one of his Scottish campaigns. 20th century statues of Bruce It was recaptured by Bruce’s followers and Wallace guard the door at in 1313. ’s famous epic Edinburgh Castle. poem describes at length how a cattleman named Bunnock 18 jammed the gates open with his cart Postcode EH8 8DX and slew the porter with a single blow, 17 Open all year allowing Bruce’s troops to flood in Bruce held a parliament at Holyrood and overwhelm the English garrison. 18 19 Abbey in 1328, at which the Treaty of Edinburgh was ratified. This recognised Bruce as rightful King of Scots, and brought a temporary halt to the Wars of Independence. Its terms also included a marriage between Bruce’s son (later David II) and Edward III’s sister Joan. Bruce stayed here during the parliament.

Note. Accessed in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse – tickets for the Palace must be purchased to visit. &

20 21 Postcode DG1 4RU Postcode TD6 9LG Open all year Open all year Besieged and captured by Edward I Discover a place so beloved by in 1300, Caerlaverock Castle remained Robert the Bruce, he chose it as in English hands until 1312 when the the final resting place for his heart. keeper Sir Eustace Maxwell changed In 1302, Bruce wrote to Melrose his allegiance to Robert the Bruce. He Abbey to apologise for attempting was besieged by the English, but held to press its tenants into battle against out. In 1313, with the castle secured, the English. His heart was buried Bruce ordered it to be demolished here after being taken on crusade For opening times, prices and more to prevent the English invaders from by his loyal ally Sir James Douglas, information on each site, please visit using it. You can now explore this which was his dying wish. historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place unique triangular wide-moated castle.

20 21 Go behind the scenes and Available this November on visit the filming locations that brought Outlaw King to life.

1 4 Castle Postcode EH49 7NH Postcode FK16 6EA Known as ‘the ship that never sailed’, Popular filming location Doune becomes Blackness becomes Castle. Douglas castle and church.

2 Craigmillar Castle 5 Dunfermline Abbey Postcode EH16 4SY Postcode KY12 7PE Edinburgh’s ‘other castle’ stars as The place where medieval monarchs Bruce’s castle and village. were laid to rest plays Westminster.

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3 Linlithgow Palace 6 Glasgow Cathedral Postcode EH49 7AL Postcode G4 0QZ A superb Renaissance residence, This awe-inspiring building becomes Linlithgow plays Bruce’s castle chapel. Greyfriar’s Cathedral and the Lord’s Hall. historicenvironment.scot

Historic Environment Scotland Scottish Charity No. SC045925

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