Battle of Loudoun Hill
Darvel, Ayrshire

This view looking south with the car park on the back left. That's the head waters of the River Irvine flowing down the gully.

The “Spirit of Scotland” monument to William Wallace and the battle - by Richard Price - is tucked under Loudoun Hill.

The actual pitched battle was a few hundred yards away (the Scots won that one) but why let a dramatic location get in the way of the facts?

This location may have been involved in earlier skirmishes involving the Scots throwing rocks down onto the English troops below so it's close enough.

The car park on the left has no view of the monument. You need to walk a hundred yards or so down the hill to get to it. It's not ideal for the less mobile or wheelchair users.

The path up to Loudoun Hill, from which the views are spectacular. Even from this lower height you can see Arran in the Firth of Clyde which is at least thirty-five miles away.

And yes, you can get to the hill from the higher land on the right of these photos if you don't fancy or can't manage a steep climb.