Old Photograph Loudon Hill Scotland

Old photograph of Loudon Hill near Darvel which is located ten miles East of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. The A71 Edinburgh to Kilmarnock road passes by the base of the hill. This route follows a Roman road which linked the Clyde Valley with the Ayrshire coast. Loudoun Hill's position at the highest point on this route gives it huge strategic significance. The hill stands above moorland, and commands 360 degree views. On clear days the coast and the Isle of Arran beyond, are visible. According to Blind Harry's epic poem The Wallace, Sir William Wallace ambushed and defeated an English force at Loudoun Hill in 1296, during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This is now regarded as simply a legend. The actual Battle of Loudoun Hill took place ten years later, in 1307. Robert the Bruce, following his time in hiding after the Battle of Methven, had begun his campaign to wrest his kingdom back from King Edward I of England. He claimed his first major victory over the English at the Battle of Glen Trool in April 1307. Robert Bruce adopted almost the same site, although slightly further east, and similar tactics, for another encounter with English forces, this time under Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. On 10 May, Bruce's men dug a series of trenches, forcing the English towards boggy ground around Loch Gait. This allowed the hundreds of Scots to repulse an army of 3000. The first attack broke, and the English fled the field. Following the battle, Bruce left his brother Edward Bruce in command of the area, and headed north to continue his guerilla campaign in Buchan. On 1 June 1679 a large conventicle, or outdoor religious service, was held at Loudoun Hill. The service was organised by the outlawed Covenanters, but was well attended. John Graham of Claverhouse, recently appointed to suppress the religious rebels, heard about the conventicle and headed to the area. His attempt to break up the gathering led to a skirmish known as the Battle of Drumclog, in which Claverhouse's dragoons were humiliatingly routed.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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