Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum And Exhibit Hall
The Old Town Hall Bank Museum and Exhibit Hall
Der Mensch bezwingt den Kosmos (The Potsdam Mosaic)
De Tijdtrap
Qadian rooftop, Minaratul Masih, and Masjid Mubarak.
Aqsa Mosque
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
about 1 hour ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
about 22 hours ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
about 23 hours ago
Grasshopper Chapel and grounds.
How the Rocky Mountain Locust Plague Spawned Federal Disaster Relief
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Broxburn William Wallace Marker
AO Edited

William Wallace Marker

This unassuming stone is possibly the oldest Scottish memorial to the 13th-century knight.

Broxburn, Scotland

Added By
SEANETTA ALLSASS
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Wallace Stone   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Wallace Stone   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Fraser Stone   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Fraser Stone   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Almondell Bridge   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
‘Unnamed Road’   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Fraser Stone   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Fifteen miles west of Edinburgh lies Almondell and Calderwood Country. Open all year around and free to visit, this spacious green wilderness area covers 220 acres of woodland and riverside walks. It is here that you will find not one, but two rather unusual carved rock slabs dating from the 18th century.

The first is much easier to locate and can be found downstream from the Almondell Bridge on the southern end, following the "Red" walking route. After walking along the river and crossing over a wooden footbridge, you'll find a stone that reads: MARGARET COUNTESS OF BUCHAN DEDICATED THIS FOREST TO HER ANCESTOR SIR SIMON FRASER OCTOBER XV MDCCLXXXIV

Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver and Neidpath fought alongside both Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. The English captured him in June 1306. Suffering the same fate as Wallace, a year later Fraser was hung, drawn, and quartered. His head was impaled on a spike and displayed next to his comrades on London Bridge.

Almondell and the surrounding environs were once in possession of David Stewart Erskine, the 11th Earl of Buchan, and his wife Margaret Fraser. Erskine, the founder of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, was enthralled with anything to do with the Scottish knight Sir William Wallace. So much so, he erected this memorial to his wife's ancestor, as well as the Wallace Statue near Dryburgh.

The second stone, also funded by Erskine, is located some distance away and can be found along the road leading out of the estate. Hidden among the underbrush, on the right-hand side of the road, a few yards from the Drumshoreland crossroads. This carved tablet may well be the earliest surviving memorial to Wallace in Scotland. The Latin inscription reads: M.S. GUL VALLAS OCTOB XV MDCCLXXXIV

Basically translated: Sacred to the memory of William Wallace October 15, 1784. This is the same year carved into the previous stone. The placement of this stone indicates the area Wallace and his men would have patrolled, keeping an eye on King Edward II and his army, just before the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298.

Related Tags

Parks Memorials Stone War Memorial Revolution

Know Before You Go

The Simon Fraser stone is located in the Almondell & Calderwood Country Park and is freely accessible to any visitors. The William Wallace stone is located a few feet from the road near the park's north entrance. The Wallace stone is on private land but can be easily seen and photographed from the road. The site can be found on Google maps using the term: "Almondell Wallacestone." 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

SEANETTA

Edited By

kapearlman, Spiffy

  • kapearlman
  • Spiffy

Published

March 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.britainexpress.com/scotland/Borders/properties/wallace-statue.htm
  • https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/2828/Almondell-History/pdf/Almondell-history.pdf
  • http://clanfraser.org/timeline/1100-1300s/
  • http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave/history/monument/almond.htm
  • britannica.com/biography/William-Wallace#ref345546
William Wallace Marker
Unnamed Road
Broxburn, Scotland, EH52 5PF
United Kingdom
55.91579, -3.459181
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kirkhill Astronomical Pillar

Broxburn, Scotland

miles away

Jupiter Artland

Wilkieston, Scotland

miles away

Huly Hill

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Broxburn

Broxburn

Scotland

Places 2

Nearby Places

Kirkhill Astronomical Pillar

Broxburn, Scotland

miles away

Jupiter Artland

Wilkieston, Scotland

miles away

Huly Hill

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Broxburn

Broxburn

Scotland

Places 2

Related Places

  • The Tree of Remembrance with pigeons roosting in it.

    Manchester, England

    Tree of Remembrance

    One of the trees in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens is actually a World War II memorial, and it's made of metal.

  • Forgotten Veterans Memorial

    Santa Clara, New Mexico

    Bataan Memorial Park

    A memorial dedicated to veterans of all wars especially those lost in Bataan defending the Philippines during World War II.

  • Monument to Carrier Pigeons.

    Lille, France

    Monument to Carrier Pigeons

    This statue honors the thousands of Allied avians that served and died for France during World War I.

  • Clarendon War Memorial.

    Arlington, Virginia

    Clarendon War Memorial

    Situated in a bustling intersection, this "mobile" monument that honors local veterans from five different wars has moved several times but appears to have found its final resting place.

  • The Edmond Bombing Memorial in Mitch Park.

    Edmond, Oklahoma

    Edmond Bombing Memorial

    A memorial to victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

  • Play Ship

    Boston, Massachusetts

    Martin’s Park

    An inclusive, climate-resilient playground honors the life of a young Boston Marathon bombing victim.

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  • The Lytham St. Annes Spitfire.

    Lytham, England

    Lytham St Annes Spitfire Memorial

    During World War II, locals rallied together to buy this plane to support the war effort.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.