New centre aims to recapture experience of Bannockburn

Now, almost 700 years after the Battle of Bannockburn, a new 5 million visitor attraction is to be built that will give visitors the sights, sounds and even smells of the historic event.

Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) are currently considering proposals for the battlefield site near Stirling that could include a "black-out room" to give visitors a sensory experience and interactive, digital exhibits.

The project, which was announced by Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop yesterday, will be created in time for the next year of Homecoming in 2014 - which is also the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn.

"This project will deliver a world class visitor attraction with an immersive digital experience that will give visitors a real flavour of the battle," said Ms Hyslop. "We believe it will set new standards for Scotland's tourism industry, generate significant additional income for the local economy and increase visitor numbers."

Experts believe the centre could boost visitor numbers to the site to as high as 100,000 in the first year and 85,000 in following years, 30 per cent up on the current figures.

Designers have been tasked with creating a centre which will give the visitor "a lasting experience" of the battle, using the latest in digital technology. The announcement follows the opening two years ago of a 10m state-of-the-art tourist centre on the site of the Battle of Culloden, where visitors are assigned a character from the 1745 Rising to follow through to the end of the event.

"We want to make things more relevant for people," said Lindsay MacDonald, project director for Historic Scotland. "Kids now are so into their X-Boxes and their Wiis and really do want technology to further their interest in things. We will use digital technology such as film, the sounds of battle and even the smells."

A listed flag pole, which was erected in the second half of the 19th century and has been unusable for a number of years, is also likely to undergo refurbishment, while outdoor exhibitions are to be installed around the landscaped area of the site charting a timelined history. Exhibitions are likely to focus heavily on the number 48, to highlight the fact that the battle lasted 48 hours.

The current visitor building is likely to be bulldozed to make way for the new centre, or could undergo major renovation and extension work.

Bannockburn battlefield, which has included the existing NTS Bannockburn Heritage Centre since the 1970s, is already one of the top visitor attractions in Scotland, according to The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.Kate Mavor, chief executive of NTS, added: "Bannockburn is one of Scotland's most significant sites and we want to ensure that everyone understands this place's part in the development of the nation."

The four-year project will be funded by a grant from Historic Scotland to NTS.

VICTORY FOR INDEPENDENCE

IT was 23 June 1314, when Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, approached Henry de Bohun, nephew of the Earl of Hereford and slew him with an axe. The incident was the beginning of the two-day Battle of Bannockburn - an event that has since been portrayed many times on the small and big screen.

Some historians have put English casualties as high as 11,000 dead. While the struggle against the English continued for another 13 years, the victory at Bannockburn secured the future of the Scottish throne for Robert the Bruce.