The Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust is delighted to be partnering with The People’s Project Dumfries and The Imaginarium’s Gallovidian Way, alongside local community organisations and businesses to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce. The 5 month long programme of events will showcase the influential and pivotal role Dumfries & Galloway played in the life and times of the most famous King Of Scots, and its lasting impact on Scottish Medieval history.

Through a variety of community-led cultural activities dotted across the region, we will share the vital role D&G played in the story of Scotland, while generating opportunities to explore our vibrant region as it is now.

We will bring to life our wealth of hidden histories and the story of The Bruce through a series of educational experiences, walks, talks, tours, films and interactive themed events.

Our programme of events will begin on Saturday 10th February, and will culminate in a weekend of birthday celebrations (closest weekend to The Bruce’s birthday) on 13th & 14th July 2024.

We are working with a number of different community organisations supporting them to organise their own local events and activities to add to the calendar of events, inspiring our region to take ownership of their stories, showcasing the multifaceted and fascinating range of history that we have associated with the life and times of Robert The Bruce.

We are going to quite literally put King Robert the Bruce’s expansive history within Dumfries & Galloway on the map.

The team are incredibly grateful to our main sponsors of the programme for their generous support: Jardine Funerals, Historic Environment Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival.

We are also very thankful for the enthusiasm, support and very special contributions of our key collaborators: Mostly Ghostly, Dumfries Devorgilla Rotary Club, Dumfries Museum, D&G Heritage Service, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Wordsmithcrafts, HM Prison Dumfries, Guid Nychburris Association, Dumfries Family History Society, Visit Scotland and The Barony of Buittle.

The full breakdown of our RtB750 programme of events available here
PDF Leaflet available here
Move over the squares below to see the event information

The Commemoration of the Slaying of the Red Comyn

10th February at 11:00,
Greyfriars Church, Dumfries:
Free, No Booking Required
A tradition marked every year by the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust, on the date and at the location that the slaying took place, in the heart of medieval Dumfries. An event that changed the future of Scotland.
This is a living history storytelling event, delivered by The Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust. People are invited to gather at Greyfriars Church at 11:00am where they will witness the Bruce in procession to the site of the slaying. You will then be invited into Greyfriars Church where you will meet The Bruce family and friends, who will share their stories and the impacts of that fateful day in Dumfries.

Launch of Medieval Dumfries Display at Dumfries Museum

10th February at 12:00 – 16:00
Dumfries Museum,
Free, No Booking Required
Drop into Dumfries Museum for a medieval themed day of craft activities and see the new display about Greyfriars in Dumfries.

‘Medieval Meanders’ with Tom Hughes of Dumfries Museum

10th February at 13:00
Leaving from Greyfriars Church, Dumfries
Free, No Booking Required
On this walking tour around Dumfries Town Centre you will learn more about how Dumfries would have looked at the time of the Bruce, and the town’s Medieval history.

Medieval Vespers Ceremony for The Red Comyn. This service will be conducted by The Bishop of Whithorn.

10th February at 15:00
Greyfriars Church, Dumfries
Free, No Booking Required
To mark ‘the closing of the day’ as many would have done in Medieval times, we will host an immersive and authentic Medieval Vespers ceremony, dedicated to Sir John ‘the Red’ Comyn, to commemorate the end of his life.

Secret History of Closeburn by Mostly Ghostly

10th February at 19:00
Closeburn Castle, Thornhill,
Adult: £20 | Child/Student: £18.00
Book your tickets here
Our day of launch events will conclude at 7pm by exploring the home of Bruce’s companion on that fateful day, Roger ‘Mak Siccar’ Kirkpatrick who delivered the fatal blows to the Red Comyn. The award winning Mostly Ghostly will offer their tour of Closeburn Castle, the ancient seat of the Clan Kirkpatrick, a true hidden gem steeped in dramatic history.

The full breakdown of our RtB750 programme of events available here
PDF Leaflet available here

This day of launch events provides a taster of the kind of events and activities that are to come in the wider programme – which will be available online here, or in a hard copy leaflet, once it is launched at these events on Saturday 10th February.

We look forward to hosting you at one of our events - Mak Siccar you pop them in your diary!