On the trail of Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce, or Robert I, is one of Scotland's most revered historic figures. Often hailed as "Good King Robert," he's celebrated for his pivotal victory over the English army at Bannockburn in 1314.

With this regional guide, you can walk in Bruce's footsteps, exploring the sites and stories from his life. You can discover filming locations used in Outlaw King, a Netflix original which follows Bruce as he battles to regain control after being made an outlaw by the King of England for taking the Scottish Crown.

‘The noblest of northern castles’, Kildrummy Castle was owned by the Earls of Mar, who were linked to Bruce by marriage. After seizing the throne in 1306, Bruce sent his wife Elizabeth and daughter Marjorie to Kildrummy for their safety, but the castle was soon besieged by English forces. In 1335, Bruce’s sister Christina defended Kildrummy against a pro-English force under David, Earl of Atholl.

Deer Abbey's tranquil Cistercian monastery ruins were founded by William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, in the early 1200s. In 1308, the abbey was probably sacked when Bruce drove William’s grandson John into exile and ordered Buchan be "ravaged fra end till end and sparyt nane".

Magnificent Urquhart Castle, on the shores of Loch Ness, was captured by Bruce in 1307 as he unleashed his fury against the Comyns (Sir Alexander Comyn of Badenoch had been made constable at Urquhart by Edward I three years earlier). Around 1312, Bruce gave Urquhart to his favoured nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, who later led a heroic raid on Edinburgh Castle.

In May 1308, Bruce defeated John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, in battle at Inverurie, 30 miles south-east of the striking, curtain-walled Balvenie Castle. Afterwards he brutally stamped out the inhabitants of Buchan, which he "burned from end to end and spared none".

Some of Scotland’s greatest medieval monarchs were laid to rest at Dunfermline Abbey. Bruce was buried here in 1329, though not before his heart was removed to be taken on Crusade.

Near the end of his life, Bruce contributed funds for the rebuilding of the abbey buildings, which had been damaged during the Wars of Independence.

A skeleton, which at the time was thought to be Bruce’s, was found during construction of the new parish church in 1818 and his name is memorialised in the parapet of the 19th century church tower. Dunfermline Abbey stood in for Westminster in Outlaw King.

The remains of Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church, St Andrews Cathedral is a prominent landmark. Bishop William Lamberton of St Andrews was the head of the Scottish church and one of Bruce’s main allies. They were appointed joint Guardians of Scotland in 1298-9, together with Bruce’s rival John Comyn.

In 1309, Bruce held his first parliament at the cathedral, and on 5th July 1318 he attended the cathedral’s consecration by Lamberton, which had been delayed by the Wars of Independence.

At Arbroath Abbey, you can explore the origins of the famous Declaration of Arbroath. Bruce is at the heart of the story of the Declaration, which was dispatched to the Pope from Arbroath in April 1320.

Glasgow Cathedral is the spot where Scotland’s largest city first began to take shape. The cathedral was the seat of Bruce’s key ally, Bishop Robert Wishart, who helped arrange the lifting of his original excommunication. The cathedral becomes Greyfriar’s Cathedral and the Lord’s Hall in Outlaw King.

The second castle at Dundonald was destroyed around 1298, possibly by Bruce while Earl of Carrick. The castle’s owner, Walter, the 6th High Steward, fought with Bruce at Bannockburn. He married Bruce’s daughter Marjorie and their son became King Robert II. Today Dundonald Castle is a mighty hilltop ruin, which stands on the site of Bronze and Iron Age remains.

Hotly fought over during the Wars of Independence, Bothwell Castle was captured by Edward I in 1301. It remained in English hands until June 1314. In the aftermath of Bannockburn, many of Edward’s senior knights took shelter here. Bruce sent his brother Edward Bruce here, where he captured some very valuable English prisoners.

Bruce would have been present at the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, as an ally of Edward I. Stirling Castle was also besieged by Bruce’s forces in May 1314 which led to the Battle of Bannockburn, a turning point in the Wars of Independence and in the fortunes of Bruce. The face of the statue of Bruce at nearby Bannockburn battlefield was modelled on the skull found at Dunfermline.

Dunstaffnage Castle was the seat of the MacDougalls of Argyll, who were loyal to Bruce's great rivals, the the Balliols. After seizing the throne in 1306, Bruce moved ruthlessly to eliminate his enemies. After wiping out the Comyns, largely in the north-east, he besieged Dunstaffnage in August 1308. Despite MacDougall’s appeal to Edward II for assistance, the castle soon fell to Bruce.

Shortly after the Battle of Bannockburn, Bruce held a parliament at Cambuskenneth Abbey at which those Scots who had opposed him were stripped of their titles and estates. In 1326, another Cambuskenneth parliament agreed the royal line of succession to follow Robert, via his daughter Marjorie.

A 20th century statue of Bruce guards the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. In March 1314, Bruce's nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph led a daring raid, scaling the steep sides of castle rock and capturing the garrison. Bruce then had most of it demolished to prevent it from being useful to the English.

Edward I made Linlithgow his base during his campaigns of 1296 and 1301. The site remained in English hands until it was recaptured by Bruce’s followers in 1313. John Barbour’s famous epic poem The Brus describes at length how a cattleman named Bunnock jammed the gates open with his cart, allowing Bruce’s troops to flood in and overwhelm the English garrison.

Bruce held a parliament at Holyrood Abbey in 1328, at which the Treaty of Edinburgh was ratified. This recognised Bruce as rightful King of Scots, and brought a temporary halt to the Wars of Independence. Its terms also included a marriage between Bruce’s son (later David II) and Edward III’s sister Joan.

Besieged and captured by Edward I in 1300, Caerlaverock Castle remained in English hands until 1312 when the keeper Sir Eustace Maxwell changed his allegiance to Robert the Bruce. He was besieged by the English, but held out. In 1313, with the castle secured, Bruce ordered it to be demolished to prevent the English invaders from using it. You can now explore this unique triangular wide-moated castle.

Discover a place so beloved by Robert the Bruce, he chose it as the final resting place for his heart. In 1302, Bruce wrote to Melrose Abbey to apologise for attempting to press its tenants into battle against the English. His heart was buried here after being taken on crusade by his loyal ally Sir James Douglas, which was his dying wish.

Known as ‘the ship that never sailed’, Blackness Castle becomes the Yorkshire castle where Bruce’s wife Elizabeth is imprisoned. Blackness also features in Outlander and Mary Queen of Scots.

Another Outlander location, Craigmillar Castle takes a starring role in Outlaw King as Bruce’s castle and village. Instantly recognisable, the castle springs back to life through CGI. Viewers will see a lot of the action centre around Craigmillar. Look out for Bruce’s daughter Marjorie sitting on the famous tree in the courtyard.

Elsewhere, Doune Castle becomes Douglas castle and church in Outlaw King. No stranger to the camera, Doune has provided the ideal filming location for Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander.

Discover more filming locations

• The Many Faces of Robert the Bruce
• Christina Bruce and Her Defence of Kildrummy Castle
• Visiting Scotland’s Castles with Robert the Bruce and John Barbour
• 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about Robert the Bruce
• The Melrose Casket and Robert The Bruce
• Outlaw King: Behind the Scenes