Wallace National Monument – ​​Visitors Guide

Inside Wallace National Monument

Wallace National Monument is bigger than most people expect (and includes more things than most people expect). When you visit you will find:

stairs: From bottom to top, Wallace National Monument consists of 246 steps. These steps will (obviously) take you to the top of the tower, where you’ll find all the fun stuff and the observation deck. From this observation deck you can see the Ochil Hills, the Forth Valley, Ben Lomond and the Pentland Hills. This viewing platform is also known as “The Crown”, because its roof looks a bit like a crown.

Exterior: When you arrive at the car park, you’ll find a map of the area and a large selection of well-marked forest trails. From here, you can follow some of these paths aimlessly, you can wander along the marked path for 20 minutes from here to the memorial, or you can hop on the minibus service that runs regularly from the car park to the memorial (this journey takes less than 5 minutes).

Ground floor: There’s not much to see here. You’ll find a gift shop and the Keeper’s Lodge (where there is a one-minute promotional video that plays repeatedly). You do not need to pay to enter this floor.

Weapons Hall: Here, you’ll get to know the big man himself. This room reveals facts and myths about William Wallace, including who he was, who he became and how he is remembered now. The most famous part of this room is Wallace’s sword, a two-handed weapon believed to have belonged to the man. It is 1.68 m (5.5 ft) long and weighs about 3 kg (6.6 lb).

Hall of Heroes: This room (as you probably guessed from its name) celebrates other Scottish heroes. It includes busts of these icons, along with some information cards. Big names featured here include Robert the Bruce, Adam Smith, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Mary Slessor and Maggie Keswick Jencks.

Royal Chamber: This room is centered around the Battle of Stirling Bridge, the conflict that inspired the location of the memorial. You’ll see weapons, heraldry, and landscape reconstructions.

Wallace statue: In 1887, Scottish sculptor David Watson Stevenson designed a statue of William Wallace. Now, this statue is attached to the outside of the monument. The statue holds a sword and is 6 meters (20 ft) tall.

…and other antiques and attractions!

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