Battle of Bannockburn teacher information

In June 1314 the history of Scotland as a nation was about to change forever.

At the Battle of Bannockburn Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, faced down the English army led by Edward II. Edward, keen to retain the stronghold of Stirling Castle, had led a huge army through Scotland to lift the Scots’ siege of his garrison at the castle. Achieving this was vital to Edward’s hopes of re-establishing his weakening grip on the country, but he was stopped short by the army of Robert Bruce.

Over the two days of battle, 23–24 June, Edward’s army was repeatedly thwarted by the Scots’ stubborn resistance before finally finding itself trapped by the surrounding terrain with no room to manoeuvre their huge force. The result was an unprecedented rout of King Edward’s army.

Located near the historic city of Stirling, the site still evokes the landscape that would have been seen by medieval soldiers in 1314, when the area was a royal hunting park.

The Experience

The Battle of Bannockburn Experience is a thrilling interpretation of the characters and events of the battle. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with medieval warriors and armoured knights while learning about the tactics of two opposing kings in a truly immersive experience. Witness the sights and sounds of medieval battle first-hand including ancient battle strategies, weapons and armour.

Workshop

To complement your visit to the Experience, we can also offer your class a workshop. Pupils will have the opportunity to handle replica armour and weapons and learn about the types of soldier that would have been present at the battle.

We also offer an outdoor tour, during which pupils will visit the site where Robert Bruce trained his army.

School visits are suitable for stages P4 to S6 and can be adapted to suit your pupils’ existing knowledge and relevant topic of study. We can also offer provision for learners in further education.

Possible topics

History – the Wars of Independence
Battles and armour

Planning your class visit

To book: please email learningatbannockburn@nts.org.uk
Pre-booking is essential and there is a very high demand for spaces. We advise arranging your trip several months in advance.
Maximum group size: 66
Parking: coaches can park in the car park outside the visitor centre.
Access: there is a lift, which provides access to all floors.
Toilets: there are accessible toilets in the visitor centre.
Teachers are expected to prepare their own risk assessment for the visit.

Charges

For the latest charges, please contact the property.

Facilities

Dedicated education room
Replica armour and weapons
Fully accessible site

During your class visit

Teachers are responsible for their pupils and their behaviour.
Shop: there’s a shop in the visitor centre.

‘A fantastic day out, very well thought out and engaging. Well done, what a wonderful way to bring history to life.’ Fintry Primary School

Find out more about Learning at Bannockburn