In footsteps of Robert the Bruce
Coxet Hill
So as you all know Stirling is a stupendous place for superlatives - we have such a rich heritage that it’s almost embarrassing.
But I think the most overlooked of our wonderful monuments is our Cockshot Wood, established in the 13th century by Alexander III and the key surviving feature of the Royal New Park.
It is mentioned in a charter by
Robert the Bruce and John Harrison has suggested that this may be the best preserved example in Britain.
What? You’re not sure where that is? Ah well, it’s now known as Coxet Hill (coxet is a contraction and corruption of cock shot). If you go there on your hour walk, look for the line of oaks and Scots pines, which used to form a cross over the hill before Cultenhove was built.
A cock shot wood is for hunting birds. The trees formed a cross and nets were placed in them, beaters then advanced scaring the birds into the nets. All a bit barbaric to our ears today but a very different time.
Now if this was not enough to tempt you, up the hill is also the likely spot of the Scots’camp ahead of the Battle of Bannockburn. The spot that the Sma’Folk marched from to such devastating effect on day two of Bannockburn. It was the appearance of them between the English and the castle that turned a defeat to a rout and the most astonishing and important victory in Scottish history.
Anyway this means that if you wander up the hill and in between the trees you are likely to be walking where Bruce walked ahead of that fateful day. Close your eyes … can you smell the smoke from camp fires and the roasting of meat, can you see Bruce shaking hands, meeting old comrades, sharing jokes and raising morale?
Surely that’s worth a visit?