Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland facts for kids
The Inventory of Historic Battlefields is a special list that helps protect places where big battles happened in Scotland. It's like a national treasure map for important battle sites! This list was first shared in December 2010 by Historic Scotland, which was a part of the Scottish Government. It officially became the Inventory in May 2011.
When it first started, 17 battlefields were on the list. By the end of 2012, it had grown to 39 sites! Today, the list is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland, the group that took over from Historic Scotland. As of 2019, there are 40 battlefields on this important list. The newest one added was the Battle of Sark in 2016.
This list helps people who own land, builders, local councils, and the Scottish Government. It guides them on how to develop these areas without harming their history or any hidden old things underground. Each entry on the list tells you about old stories, things found in the ground, and why the battlefield is important. It also includes a map showing the exact area of the battle.
To decide which battlefields are important enough for the list, experts look at a few things:
- If the site is linked to important historical events.
- If there are old things left or hidden underground that can tell us more.
- If the site is important to Scottish culture.
- What the land around the battlefield looks like.
Scotland's Famous Battlefields List
This section shows some of the many famous battles that are protected on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields. Each battle has a unique story and played a part in shaping Scotland's past.
ID | Battle | Date | Co-ordinates | Council area | Belligerents | Campaign | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BTL1 | Battle of Alford | 2 July 1645 | 57°14′17″N 2°43′23″W / 57.238°N 2.723°W | Aberdeenshire | Scottish Royalists / Government troops | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Royalist victory |
BTL2 | Battle of Ancrum Moor | 27 February 1545 | 55°32′10″N 2°36′25″W / 55.536°N 2.607°W | Borders | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Rough Wooing | Scottish victory |
BTL3 | Battle of Auldearn | 9 May 1645 | 57°34′16″N 3°48′47″W / 57.571°N 3.813°W | Highland | Scottish Royalists / Government troops | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Royalist victory |
BTL4 | Battle of Bannockburn | 24 June 1314 | 56°05′31″N 3°54′54″W / 56.092°N 3.915°W | Stirling | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Wars of Scottish Independence | Scottish victory |
BTL5 | Battle of Bothwell Bridge | 22 June 1679 | 55°47′42″N 4°03′25″W / 55.795°N 4.057°W | South Lanarkshire | Covenanter army / Government troops | Covenanter Rebellion of 1679 | Government victory |
BTL6 | Battle of Culloden | 16 April 1746 | 57°28′41″N 4°05′49″W / 57.478°N 4.097°W | Highland | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1745 | Government victory |
BTL7 | Battle of Dunbar II | 3 September 1650 | 55°58′48″N 2°29′24″W / 55.980°N 2.490°W | East Lothian | Kingdom of Scotland / Commonwealth of England | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | English victory |
BTL8 | Battle of Dupplin Moor | 11 August 1332 | 56°21′11″N 3°32′17″W / 56.353°N 3.538°W | Perth & Kinross | Loyalist Scots / Rebels supporting Edward Balliol, and English allies | Second War of Scottish Independence | Balliol victory |
BTL9 | Battle of Falkirk II | 17 January 1746 | 55°59′13″N 3°48′50″W / 55.987°N 3.814°W | Falkirk | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1745 | Jacobite victory |
BTL10 | Battle of Glen Shiel | 10 June 1719 | 57°09′58″N 5°19′01″W / 57.166°N 5.317°W | Highland | Spanish troops and Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1719 | Government victory |
BTL11 | Battle of Harlaw | 24 July 1411 | 57°18′29″N 2°24′40″W / 57.308°N 2.411°W | Aberdeenshire | Lowland clans under Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar / Allies of Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles | Feud between Clan MacDonald and Stewart royal family | Inconclusive |
BTL12 | Battle of Killiecrankie | 27 July 1689 | 56°45′11″N 3°47′46″W / 56.753°N 3.796°W | Perth & Kinross | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1689 | Jacobite victory |
BTL13 | Battle of Kilsyth | 15 August 1645 | 55°59′02″N 4°01′05″W / 55.984°N 4.018°W | North Lanarkshire | Scottish Royalists / Government troops | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Royalist victory |
BTL14 | Battle of Philiphaugh | 13 September 1645 | 55°32′31″N 2°52′05″W / 55.542°N 2.868°W | Borders | Scottish Royalists / Government troops | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Government victory |
BTL15 | Battle of Pinkie Cleugh | 10 September 1547 | 55°55′59″N 3°01′23″W / 55.933°N 3.023°W | East Lothian | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Rough Wooing | English victory |
BTL16 | Battle of Prestonpans | 21 September 1745 | 55°57′36″N 2°57′00″W / 55.960°N 2.950°W | East Lothian | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1745 | Jacobite victory |
BTL17 | Battle of Sheriffmuir | 13 November 1715 | 56°11′42″N 3°54′36″W / 56.195°N 3.910°W | Stirling | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1715 | Inconclusive |
BTL18 | Battle of Barra | 22 May and 23 May 1308 | 57°20′06″N 2°19′05″W / 57.335°N 2.318°W | Aberdeenshire | Scottish Royal Army / Scottish opponents of Bruce under John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan | Wars of Scottish Independence | Royalist victory |
BTL19 | Battle of Carbisdale | 27 April 1650 | 57°54′58″N 4°25′16″W / 57.916°N 4.421°W | Highland | Covenanter army / Scottish Royalists | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Covenanter victory |
BTL20 | Battle of Cromdale | 30 April and 1 May 1690 | 57°11′42″N 3°17′31″W / 57.195°N 3.292°W | Highland | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1689 | Government victory |
BTL21 | Battle of Drumclog | 1 June 1679 | 55°37′52″N 4°11′02″W / 55.631°N 4.184°W | South Lanarkshire | Covenanter army / Government troops | Covenanter Rebellion of 1679 | Covenanter victory |
BTL22 | Battle of Fyvie | 28 October 1644 - 30 October 1644 | 57°25′59″N 2°23′42″W / 57.433°N 2.395°W | Aberdeenshire | Covenanter army / Scottish Royalists | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | Royalist victory |
BTL23 | Battle of Inverkeithing II | 20 July 1651 | 56°01′30″N 3°24′47″W / 56.025°N 3.413°W | Fife | Kingdom of Scotland / Commonwealth of England | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | English victory |
BTL24 | Battle of Inverlochy II | 2 February 1645 | 56°49′55″N 5°04′30″W / 56.832°N 5.075°W | Fife | Wars of the Three Kingdoms | ||
BTL25 | Battle of Linlithgow Bridge | 4 September 1526 | 55°58′16″N 3°38′02″W / 55.971°N 3.634°W | West Lothian | Feud between Clan Douglas and Stewart royal family | ||
BTL26 | Battle of Mulroy | 4 August 1688 | 56°54′11″N 4°50′20″W / 56.903°N 4.839°W | Highland | Feud between Clan Cameron and Clan Mackintosh | ||
BTL27 | Battle of Rullion Green | 28 November 1666 | 55°51′18″N 3°09′50″W / 55.855°N 3.164°W | Midlothian | Covenanter army / Scottish Royalists | Scottish Covenanter Wars | Royalist victory |
BTL28 | Battle of Stirling Bridge | 11 September 1297 | 56°07′52″N 3°55′55″W / 56.131°N 3.932°W | Stirling | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Wars of Scottish Independence | Scottish victory |
BTL29 | Blar na Léine | 15 July 1544 | 57°01′48″N 4°49′08″W / 57.030°N 4.819°W | Highland | Clan Fraser and Clan Grant / Clan MacDonald and Clan Cameron | Scottish clan wars | MacDonald / Cameron victory |
BTL31 | Battle of Dunbar I | 27 April 1296 | 55°58′37″N 2°31′16″W / 55.97692°N 2.52119°W | East Lothian | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Wars of Scottish Independence | English victory |
BTL32 | Battle of Dunkeld | 21 August 1689 | 56°33′54″N 3°35′06″W / 56.565°N 3.585°W | Perth & Kinross | Jacobites / Government troops | Jacobite rising of 1689 | Government victory |
BTL36 | Battle of Loudoun Hill | 10 May 1307 | 55°36′32″N 4°12′36″W / 55.609°N 4.210°W | Ayrshire | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Wars of Scottish Independence | Scottish victory |
BTL37 | Battle of Roslin | 24 February 1303 | 55°51′18″N 3°09′50″W / 55.855°N 3.164°W | Midlothian | Kingdom of Scotland / Kingdom of England | Wars of Scottish Independence | Scottish victory |