Abbey Craig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abbey Craig |
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Abbey Craig with Wallace Monument on top
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 111 m (364 ft) |
| Prominence | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Abbey Craig
Location in Stirling
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| OS grid | NS809956 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 57 |
The Abbey Craig is a famous hill in Scotland. It's known for being the home of the Wallace Monument. This monument honors William Wallace, a Scottish hero. The hill is near Stirling, a historic city.
Contents
What is Abbey Craig Made Of?
Abbey Craig is a special type of rock formation. It's made from a hard rock called quartz-dolerite. This rock pushed its way into older layers of rock. Think of it like a giant, flat sheet of rock. This sheet is called a sill. It's part of a larger rock area called the Stirling Sill.
Over millions of years, softer rocks around the Abbey Craig wore away. This happened because of erosion, like wind and rain. Also, huge sheets of ice called glaciers carved out the land. Because the quartz-dolerite is so tough, it stayed behind. This created the hill we see today.
The Shape of the Hill
The Abbey Craig has a unique shape. It looks like a "crag and tail." The "crag" is the steep, rocky front part. The "tail" is a gentler slope behind it. This shape was formed by glaciers moving over the land. They scraped away the softer rock, leaving the hard crag. Then, they left behind a trail of rock and soil, forming the tail.
What Does the Name "Abbey Craig" Mean?
The word Craig means a rocky hill or cliff. It describes the shape of the Abbey Craig. The "Abbey" part of the name comes from Cambuskenneth Abbey. This old abbey is about one kilometer south of the hill. It sits on the north bank of the River Forth.
Abbey Craig's History
Abbey Craig is an important place in Scottish history. It was the main base for William Wallace in 1297. This was just before the famous battle of Stirling Bridge. This battle was a key part of the Scottish Wars of Independence. Wallace and his Scottish army won a big victory against the English here.
Ancient Fort on the Hill
Long before Wallace, people also used the hilltop for defense. There was an ancient fort there. This fort was built in the Early Medieval Period. Archaeologists found that it was destroyed by fire around the 6th or 7th centuries AD. Later, it was rebuilt in the 8th or 9th centuries AD. Experts have learned about this fort from two digs. One was in 2001, and another in 2012.
