“After a very short halt at Linlithgow, I mounted my bicycle and rode on up the River Forth to within a mile and a half of Stirling, where a halt was made for a few moments as the famous old battlefield of Bannockburn was reached. It is just an ordinary field, very much like Flodden Field, only it has a tall flag pole erected near the spot where the old Borestone, on which Bruce placed his standard* in that eventful battle of Bannockburn, June 24th 1314.
From Brock’s Brae a splendid view can be had of the whole field, where the battle was fought, also the bog which separated the enemy from the Scottish forces, and “Gillies Hill”, whose sudden occupancy by the army of Bruce’s camp followers, struck panic among the English troops.
Stirling, 36 miles from the Forth bridge, is, so the Stirling people say, the most historic town in Scotland. The castle, situated on a very high hill in the centre of town, originated no one knows when, and it was a prominent stronghold in the ancient wars during the career of Bruce and Wallace.”
A letter from Karl, published in a Glasgow paper on June 25, 1901

The Battle of Bannockburn took place between the Scottish and the English on June 23-24, 1314. The English occupied Stirling Castle, a strategic possession for England as the gateway north to the highlands of Scotland. Consequently, the Stirling Castle was critical to Scottish independence. The battle for the liberty of Scotland was led by King Robert I –– also known as Robert ‘the Bruce’ and referred to by Karl simply as ‘Bruce’. Over the two days, the outnumbered Scottish army fought the larger, more experienced English army to victory, gaining control of central Scotland.

After the Battle of Bannockburn, Robert the Bruce had Stirling Castle demolished so the English could not return and have occupancy. Ironically, a mere 13 years later, Edward III of England recaptured the Castle and, thankfully, also had it rebuilt.

I did take some time to explore Stirling Castle, perched high on a volcanic rock guarding the River Forth between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Stirling Castle has been attacked at least 16 times throughout history. It is the childhood home of Mary, Queen of Scots and where Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned, baptized, died or murdered.

Meeting up with Karl in Stirling feels for the first time that we are not 120 years apart in our respective journeys. Our impressions and perceptions of Stirling are the same as if we were travelling mere months apart. So if the Stirling people contend they have the most historic town in Scotland, who are two Nova Scotian ‘GlobeTrotters’ to disagree?!

*standard is another word for flag

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The Karl Journey is now registered as an official expedition with the Royal Geographical Society