Ross Tillbrook - The Scottish Tourist Guide

Ross Tillbrook - The Scottish Tourist Guide As a Scottish Tourist Guide, accredited by the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA), and Story

Some images from my latest trip round Scotland
11/09/2026

Some images from my latest trip round Scotland

Even our national animal, the unicorn, is wearing a traffic cone these days 🤣
14/08/2026

Even our national animal, the unicorn, is wearing a traffic cone these days 🤣

Spotted today in
17/07/2026

Spotted today in

Happy 250th Birthday my American friends! 🇺🇸
04/07/2026

Happy 250th Birthday my American friends! 🇺🇸

Fabulous couple of days guiding clients around Scotland 🏳️‍🌈
26/06/2026

Fabulous couple of days guiding clients around Scotland 🏳️‍🌈

Towser the Mouser was the cat in residence at Glenturret Distillery from 1963-1987. During that time she caught 28,899 ...
26/06/2026

Towser the Mouser was the cat in residence at Glenturret Distillery from 1963-1987. During that time she caught 28,899 mice and consequently is a Guiness Book of World Records holder.

24/06/2026

Will you be singing ‘Flower of Scotland’ tonight as Scotland heads into their World Cup match against Brazil?

The song, written in the 1960s, famously commemorates the Battle of Bannockburn, where King Robert I (better known as Robert the Bruce) defeated England's King Edward II.

But did you know that today marks the anniversary of the second day of the battle of Bannockburn?

At dawn on 24 June 1314, the Scottish army advanced from the shelter of the woods to confront the English, who had not expected an attack. Edward II appeared convinced that Robert the Bruce would avoid battle, and the English forces were poorly prepared when the Scots advanced in three organised divisions. The English cavalry, led by the Earl of Gloucester, launched an early charge, but a lack of coordination and the restricted terrain reduced its effectiveness. Tensions within the English leadership also weakened their response, and Gloucester was killed during the fighting.

English archers, usually a key part of their military strategy, seem to have played little role in the battle. One account suggests Scottish cavalry drove them away before they could have a major impact, although historians debate the accuracy of this claim. As a result, the Scottish schiltrons (tight infantry formations) were able to continue their advance with little disruption.

The Scottish attack steadily pushed the English back. Trapped by boggy ground and crowded by their own troops, English cavalry and infantry became increasingly disorganised. As the retreating front lines collided with forces behind them, the English formation collapsed. Bruce then committed his reserve troops, while camp followers appearing on the battlefield were mistaken for fresh Scottish reinforcements, adding to the growing panic.

The English army broke and fled in several directions. Edward II escaped after a difficult journey to the coast, while many of his men were captured or killed trying to reach safety. Some were turned away from Stirling Castle, others were captured at nearby strongholds, and many died while crossing difficult terrain or attempting to reach the River Forth.

More than 700 years on, the Battle of Bannockburn remains culturally significant. As a decisive battle in the First Scottish Wars of Independence, it became a major element in the definition of Scotland as an independent entity, and a rallying point for Scottish nationalist groups.

Tonight, Scotland once again finds itself cast as the underdog as it takes on Brazil in the World Cup. The stakes may be very different, but Bannockburn remains a reminder that Scotland has a long history of defying expectations when the odds are stacked against it. As the Tartan Army belts out ‘Flower of Scotland’ before kick-off, fans will be hoping for another occasion when Scotland proves it should never be underestimated.

📷 Statue of Robert the Bruce, by Pilkington Jackson, at Bannockburn.

The fabulous Edwardians: Age of Elegance Exhibition at The King's Gallery, Edinburgh
20/06/2026

The fabulous Edwardians: Age of Elegance Exhibition at The King's Gallery, Edinburgh

Caught guiding - action shots from St Kilda!
04/06/2026

Caught guiding - action shots from St Kilda!

The incredible double UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda - the archipelago on the edge of the Atlantic!
02/06/2026

The incredible double UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda - the archipelago on the edge of the Atlantic!

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