Alba gu bràth 
Loudoun Hill and the 'Spirit of Scotland'
Located near the head of the River Irvine east of Darvel in East Ayrshire, Loudoun Hill (also commonly called Loudownhill) is a volcanic plug which rises 1,307 feet (316 meters) above the moorland. Ice Age glaciers smoothed out the valley, leaving this plug of granite above the valley floor. From the top, one has a 360-degree view of the Scottish countryside. To the west, has is a magnificent view down the lush Irvine Valley - Scotland's "green and pleasant land." One a clear day, Irvine Bay is visible on the western horizon, and beyond that the peaks of the Isle of Arran. Priestland, where we live with our family and is only two miles (3.35 kilometers) west of Loudoun Hill.
As lovely as the location may be, Loudoun Hill and the Irvine Valley also has a history of bloodshed from prehistoric times to its occupation by Roman troops, the Scottish civil wars, and bloody massacres in uprisings and battles with the English. The present-day A71 Edinburgh to Kilmarnock road passes by the base of Loudoun Hill. The Romans originally established this route linking the Clyde Valley to the northeast with the Ayrshire coast, and since the hill was the highest point on the route, it had a great strategic importance. The Romans even built a fort at the foot of the southeast slope at Allanton Beg, not knowing that an Iron Age culture had existed there long before they arrived.
The most celebrated historical occurrence at Loudoun Hill, however, involved Scotland's most beloved hero of the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1296, Sir William Wallace with a small band of perhaps 50 rebels, ambushed and defeated an English force of about 200 mounted men at the end of "Windy Wizzen" (or "Winny Wizzen"), a narrow gully near the former Roman fort. English General Fenwick, who supposedly killed Wallace's father, was killed in this battle. His troops were scattered, and the supplies he was transporting to the garrison at Ayr were lost to the Scottish rebels. On the slope opposite the mound where the English troops were buried is a monument to Wallace. Called the "Spirit of Scotland," it shows an outline of Wallace in steel, 16.5 feet (5 meters) high. It was designed and created by local artist Richard Price, and dedicated in September 2004.
In 1307, future first King of Scotland Robert Bruce returned from Ireland to begin his quest to take back his kingdom from King Edward I of England. Bruce adopted a site slightly east of where Wallace had won his victory, and he used similar tactics for another encounter with the English forces under Aymer de Valence, Second Earl of Pembroke. His men dug a series of trenches, which forced the English towards boggy ground around Loch Gait. With a force of 500 to 600 Scots, Bruce defeated the 3,000 English troops, then moved north to continue his guerilla campaign against the English.
The last known battle near Loudoun Hill was not a fight for the country's independence, but one brought about by religious persecution. In 1679, a a large conventicle, or outdoor religious service, was held at Loudoun Hill. The service was organized by the outlawed Covenanters, an important movement in the religion and politics of 17th Century Scotland. In religion, the movement is most associated with promotion and development of Presbyterianism as a form of church government favored by the people, rather than Episcopacy, favored by the crown. In politics, the movement saw important developments in the character and operation of the Scottish Parliament, which began a steady shift away from its medieval origins. The movement as a whole was essentially conservative in tone, but it began a revolution that engulfed Scotland, England and Ireland.
John Graham of Claverhouse was the commander of government troops in southwest Scotland, and he had recently been appointed to suppress religious rebels. After receiving news of the impending conventicle, he took about 150 mounted troops to the area about 2/3 of a mile (1 kilometer) east of Loudoun Hill in an attempt scatter those gathered for the meeting. When he arrived, he found himself facing the covenanting army of about 300, of which only about 50 were mounted. Most were armed only with pikes and pitchforks. The Battle of Drumclog ensued, and Claverhouse's dragoons were decisively defeated.
While the area was under Roman control, a viaduct was built across the valley. In 1905, the Caledonian Railway Company began using the viaduct for its trains to cross the valley. In 1986, the viaduct was deemed "unsafe" and demolished. A section of the viaduct can still be seen near Loudoun Hill.
Sadly Bill WA0KAQ who researched the history and wrote this small piece on Loudoun Hill has now passed away as a silent key.....Bill we will miss our chats and our thoughts will always be with Bills Family, please visit Bills Website listed in the links section.
As lovely as the location may be, Loudoun Hill and the Irvine Valley also has a history of bloodshed from prehistoric times to its occupation by Roman troops, the Scottish civil wars, and bloody massacres in uprisings and battles with the English. The present-day A71 Edinburgh to Kilmarnock road passes by the base of Loudoun Hill. The Romans originally established this route linking the Clyde Valley to the northeast with the Ayrshire coast, and since the hill was the highest point on the route, it had a great strategic importance. The Romans even built a fort at the foot of the southeast slope at Allanton Beg, not knowing that an Iron Age culture had existed there long before they arrived.
The most celebrated historical occurrence at Loudoun Hill, however, involved Scotland's most beloved hero of the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1296, Sir William Wallace with a small band of perhaps 50 rebels, ambushed and defeated an English force of about 200 mounted men at the end of "Windy Wizzen" (or "Winny Wizzen"), a narrow gully near the former Roman fort. English General Fenwick, who supposedly killed Wallace's father, was killed in this battle. His troops were scattered, and the supplies he was transporting to the garrison at Ayr were lost to the Scottish rebels. On the slope opposite the mound where the English troops were buried is a monument to Wallace. Called the "Spirit of Scotland," it shows an outline of Wallace in steel, 16.5 feet (5 meters) high. It was designed and created by local artist Richard Price, and dedicated in September 2004.
In 1307, future first King of Scotland Robert Bruce returned from Ireland to begin his quest to take back his kingdom from King Edward I of England. Bruce adopted a site slightly east of where Wallace had won his victory, and he used similar tactics for another encounter with the English forces under Aymer de Valence, Second Earl of Pembroke. His men dug a series of trenches, which forced the English towards boggy ground around Loch Gait. With a force of 500 to 600 Scots, Bruce defeated the 3,000 English troops, then moved north to continue his guerilla campaign against the English.
The last known battle near Loudoun Hill was not a fight for the country's independence, but one brought about by religious persecution. In 1679, a a large conventicle, or outdoor religious service, was held at Loudoun Hill. The service was organized by the outlawed Covenanters, an important movement in the religion and politics of 17th Century Scotland. In religion, the movement is most associated with promotion and development of Presbyterianism as a form of church government favored by the people, rather than Episcopacy, favored by the crown. In politics, the movement saw important developments in the character and operation of the Scottish Parliament, which began a steady shift away from its medieval origins. The movement as a whole was essentially conservative in tone, but it began a revolution that engulfed Scotland, England and Ireland.
John Graham of Claverhouse was the commander of government troops in southwest Scotland, and he had recently been appointed to suppress religious rebels. After receiving news of the impending conventicle, he took about 150 mounted troops to the area about 2/3 of a mile (1 kilometer) east of Loudoun Hill in an attempt scatter those gathered for the meeting. When he arrived, he found himself facing the covenanting army of about 300, of which only about 50 were mounted. Most were armed only with pikes and pitchforks. The Battle of Drumclog ensued, and Claverhouse's dragoons were decisively defeated.
While the area was under Roman control, a viaduct was built across the valley. In 1905, the Caledonian Railway Company began using the viaduct for its trains to cross the valley. In 1986, the viaduct was deemed "unsafe" and demolished. A section of the viaduct can still be seen near Loudoun Hill.
Sadly Bill WA0KAQ who researched the history and wrote this small piece on Loudoun Hill has now passed away as a silent key.....Bill we will miss our chats and our thoughts will always be with Bills Family, please visit Bills Website listed in the links section.