![]() ![]() Killiecrankie is also the first known use of a grenade on British soil and where the Jacobite lord, John “Bonnie Dundee” Graham met his end. You can visit the very spot and wonder how in the world he did it. This soldier was being chased by Jacobite forces when he managed to leap almost six metres across River Garry to escape. The walk around the battle area contains the solemn stone grave of Brigadier Barthold Balfour and the amazing story of Donald McBane. This site is a remarkable mix of beautiful scenery and personal tales of war. Right in the centre of Scotland, in a dramatic wooded gorge where the lowland meets the highland, one of the goriest battles of the Jacobite Uprising occurred in 1689. ![]() The Pass of Killiecrankie © neil.inglis (CC BY 2.0) Like many medieval battles, the exact location of this pivotal clash of arms is disputed, but the self guided tours across the parkland manage to offer a good evocation of the Bruce’s improbable victory – the perfect mix of location and technology really brings history to life.īattle of Killiecrankie – Killiecrankie Visitor Centre You can also wield period-accurate weaponry and enthusiastic costumed staff members roam the area and are very knowledgeable about all things Bannockburn. While many battlefield sites feature audio tours and information guides, what marks Bannockburn out is its award winning visitor centre, which boasts an immersive 3D film reconstruction and an interactive battle-map allowing you to manoeuvre your own forces and fight the battle as a commander. The battle of Bannockburn in 1314 was a significant victory in the First War for Scottish Independence for Robert the Bruce, whose outnumbered army routed the English forces of Edward II, and a great deal of effort and funding has gone into the visitor centre and surrounding area. He was unsuccessful but the ruined majesty of the castle and its gardens still remain.īannockburn Battlefield © Shadowgate (CC BY 2.0) Not only has it seen many wars but it was also the centre of a royal romance when the Earl of Leicester began extensive renovations and created charming gardens in an attempt to woo Elizabeth I. ![]() Whilst the conflict at Kenilworth lays forgotten in the history books, this beautiful castle has remained throughout time. You can sit in the ruins of an old window, picturing this castle surrounded by water and the medieval machinery of war and look to the side to see graffiti from the 1800’s etched into the walls. Looking out from the battlements you can get a real senses of how the entire area around the castle was flooded to prevent Henry III’s mighty siege towers from reaching the walls. Kenilworth Castle is the site of the longest and largest siege in British history which took place during the Second Baron’s war in 1266. Kenilworth Castle © Peter Reed (CC BY-NC 2.0) Events also occur here throughout the year featuring soldier’s camps and recreations that do away with looking at books to let you experience the sights, sounds and smells of a battle camp.īattle of Culloden – Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre To explore the site on foot, the Battlefields Trust has a great section on Bosworth with tours and maps to help the inquisitive visitor. It has extensive and award-winning displays on medieval warfare but also documents the events leading up to the battle that has since been immortalised in plays, films and tales.Īlthough various hypotheses have been put forward for the exact location of the battle, Bosworth remains an important and atmospheric visit – the slain Richard III was the last monarch to die in battle here and Henry VII was crowned on the battle site. The defining battle of the War of the Roses in 1485 now boasts an impressive visitor centre complete with artefacts, weaponry and costumes to try on. The Battle of Bosworth Field – Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Parkĭiorama of the Battle of Bosworth at the Bosworth Centre. Reconstructions and artefacts can found in the Richard III Experience museum in York, which makes the perfect accompanying visit. One of the last original standing crosses in England is also on the battle site and there are information boards documenting what occurred in this epic battle in the War of the Roses. This is a corner of England that shouldn’t be forgotten knowing that this unassuming farmland was the last thing tens of thousands of people ever saw can send a shiver down the spine on the warmest of summer days. Howling wind and blinding snow forced the Lancastrian and Yorkist forces to massacre each other in hand-to-hand combat in what is now called the Bloody Meadow. A quiet field in between York and Leeds is the resting place of 28,000 people, almost 1% of the population back in 1461. This place is the site of what many regard to be the most barbaric bloodbath in British battlefield history. There are fewer 50 of these standing crosses remaining in England. ![]()
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