Getting There
Leave the M9 and follow the A872, Stirling, northbound 5th exit, southbound 1st exit. There is also a brown sign to the Bannockburn Heritage Centre. Pass the Pirnhill Inn and then take the 2nd exit at the roundabout, again signed to Bannockburn. The Heritage Centre is on the left hand side, and clearly signed.
Return to M9 Junction 9
Turn right out of the car park, and return the way you came, signed M9 all the way.
Bannockburn
After a convincingly bloodthirsty performance by the actor/warrior in the visitor centre the battlefield itself was something of an anti-climax. But the dog won’t mind that the open land here is more playing field than ghost-filled museum, as it’s an ideal space for a bound with the hound. Do look out for young visitors brandishing swords, though.
No directions necessary, as there is just plenty of open space.
The visitor centre shop is worth a look, and we came out duly laden with a CD of folk music, shortbread, and a book to make sense of all the castles and battlefields we’d walked the dog over. Turns out (according to Magnus Magnusson) that this isn’t the site of the battle at all!
Facilities
Free car park. Visitor centre with very good WCs (and disabled), shop, exhibition and exciting battle video.
Refreshments: there is a coffee machine and biscuits at the visitor centre. For more filling fare there is a choice between the motorway services at the motorway junction; the Klondike Garden Centre for coffee and cakes is on the left shortly before the entrance to the car park, and the King Robert Hotel Bistro is next to the battle site.