By Fangning Lou
At 20th Sept, 2019, the very first week of our exchange study in University of Stirling, Thomas, history teacher, gave us an unforgettable and ingenious class. He guided us hiking in Stirling.
The weather in Stirling seemed to be back in midsummer. Many students were outdoors, reading or chatting on the grassland. On the Airthrey Loch in the distance, swans and mallards were playing in the water. Thomas took us hiking to Stirling’s old town to explore historical sites and learn about the history and culture of Stirling, Scotland and the United Kingdom.
The day before, we watched Brave Hearts(1995), a movie about Scottish hero Sir William Wallace. Besides, the National Wallace Monument is located in Stirling, and in many parts of Stirling, you can see this majestic Gothic building when you look up.
The first stop of us was Cambuskenneth Abbey which was ordered to build by David I of Scotland in 1140. As one of the most important monasteries in Scotland, Cambuskenneth Abbey now has only one tower left, and due to the war and turmoil of different religious denominations, most of the buildings have been looted and burned.
The second stop is the Battle of Stirling Bridge, known as Old Stirling Bridge. Andrew Marie and William Wallace’s army defeated the English coalition here. To commemorate this battle, the bridge was rebuilt in the 14th or 15th century.
In the last part of the hiking, Thomas arranged the activity of “treasure hunt” of the old Stirling town. We were divided into two groups, looking for historical monuments in the city centre according to the requirements of the questionnaire, and then answer questions. Major local attractions such as the Old Town Jail, Church of Holy Rude, and Argyll ’s Lodging were included.
This history hiking lesson made history knowledge no longer just some stories in the textbooks, but also an interesting experience combining history and culture with joy.
Referring:
[1]Stirling Old Bridge
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-old-bridge/