The Trail

Journey back 700 years to the Wars of Independence and see Dumfries and Galloway through the eyes of Scotland's greatest King.
THE summer of 2009 was a key point in the development of the Bruce Trust’s objective, raising the profile of Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce. It marked the completion of three year’s painstaking work drawing together all the places in south west Scotland’s Dumfries and Galloway region which have strong connections with Bruce whose family home for centuries was in Annandale, first at Annan and later at Lochmaben.
The result, four fascinating trails centring on Dumfries where the murder of the Red Comyn launched the Wars of Independence which eventually secured freedom and independence for Scotland.
The importance of the trails, in terms of education and tourism, was emphasised with Royal assent when the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, officially declared them open.
Full details of the all the trails and the best way to follow them whether on foot or by car, are available in a special booklet and leaflet widely distributed throughout Dumfries and Galloway The Bruce Trust gratefully thanks the all partners whose help was invaluable creating the trails:


Four Trails ... One Tail
On the morning of Thursday, February 10, 1306, Robert Bruce met his cousin John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and the most influential man in Scotland, in the Church of the Grey Friars, Dumfries. No-one can say for certain how it happened by Comyn died near the high altar and Bruce was left with little option but to pursue his aim of capturing the throne and ending English domination of the country.
Sadly, nothing is left of the Grey Friars Church today, save the ground on which it stood, covered in shops, and a Victorian disused kirk of the same name a few yards away. However, the site marks the central point of the Dumfries Town Trail which takes in six points linking the ancient Royal Burgh with the hero king.
Castledykes, for example, was the site of the town castle, the first in Scotland captured from occupying forces by Bruce.
St Mary’s Church stands on what was originally the town’s execution site where Sir Christopher Seton was hung, drawn and quartered in 1307.
Ten sites make up the Eastern trail which stretches from Caerlaverock’s impressive stone built castle in the south to the ruins of Sanquhar Castle in the north. The trail takes in the motte alongside the river Annan that housed the first castle of the Bruce family when they moved to Scotland around 1124. The motte was also the site of the official opening of the trails by the Duke of York.
The Lochmaben motte survives today but as part of the town’s golf course. However, the spectacular ruins of a stone castle, built late, are located on the southern side of the Castle Loch. Another important part of the trail lies in the hills above the town of Moffat. The Ericstane no longer seems to exist but the visitor can get a distinct feel for the momentous meeting that took place there in late March, 1306. With a little imagination we can visualised the Bruce party, heading for the coronation at Scone, winding up the hillside where a young man sat astride his horse waiting. He was James Douglas and that meeting launched a lifelong association that culminated with “The Good Sir James” losing his life in southern Spain fighting the Moors while carrying Bruce’s embalmed heart on crusade.
Farther north, Wanlockhead was home to Bruce’s herd of palfreys, no doubt including the one he rode when he killed de Bohun on the eve of Bannockburn.
Sweetheart Abbey in the picture postcard village of New Abbey is the starting point for the Central Trail which winds its way through the Stewartry.
The Abbey was built by Lady Devorgilla, mother of King John Balliol who was humiliated by Edward I in 1296, and was the launching point for many an invasion of the western area of the region. Buittle Castle, stronghold of the Lords of Galloway, stood on ground alongside the 16th century Tower House, Buittle Tower, which is still occupied. Buittle Castle was one of the most important in the south west and it was under siege by Bruce’s brother Edward for several months before finally surrendering. Bruce had is razed to the ground.
Castle Douglas was occupied by the English in 1308, under the command of Robert Clifford, when Sir James Douglas came calling. The town was to witness tremendous slaughter as Douglas killed most of the defenders and destroyed the castle fortifications.
Stunning Glentrool in Galloway Forest Park is one of the key points in all the trails. An impressive Bruce stone marks the spot where Robert notched up his first major victory over the occupying forces. After wintering, probably between Rathlin Island off Ulster and the Highlands, the king landed back in Ayrshire early in 1307. He was camped in Glentrool in April with no more than 300 men and managed to lure the Earl of Pembroke and 1,500 heavy cavalry along the narrow track on the south side of Loch Trool. Bruce’s forces bombarded the enemy with boulders before falling on them as they scattered. Pembroke fled back to Carlisle and Bruce’s reputation began to grow.
Whithorn, seen by many as the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, was home to St Ninian. His shrine was held in the highest of esteem by Bruce who, as a dying man, made the long trip from Dumbarton on Pilgrimage in April, 1329. Bruce’s health had been broken by years of campaigning and he suffered from a skin disease some believe was leprosy. Shortly after returning from the pilgrimage, Bruce died.