The Flodden Battlefield Trail
Northumberland
Distance 5km Climb 90m
Tuesday 20 October 2020
Another walk I was not sure if I should post but as it was interesting and a walk I thought why not.
It has been a number of years since we last visited the Flodden Battlefield. It is always interesting especially as I had forget so many things.
We parked the car in the car park below the Flodden Monument, just passed Branxton. Walking the pathway we stopped to look at the information panel, before climbing the steps to the Monument. It was clear today and we could see across the battlefield and what all the panels were describing.
This was interesting because it shows the routes both armies took to get to this place.
Walking back to the edge of the field we followed the sign directing us down hill.
At the bottom of the bank runs a ditch, there is a panel that explains what happened around here. The Scots were winning.
This is a view looking back up towards the Monument.
The view looking along the side of the ditch.
This panel explains the ground on the day of the battle.
Our Trail took us right climbing up to the high ground. This panel explains what happened next. You can see below even today the ground still floods.
A little further along the top.
Seeing their companions winning on the left more Scots ran down the hill.
But they got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the hill which was their undoing. Then their king, King James got involved and he also got stuck.
Some Scots went to help their King but were hit by English archers to the right.
We crossed a road as we followed the leaflet onto the purple line which has no information panels, yet. However the leaflet provides some information.
This is where the Scots who went to try and rescue their King were hit by the English archers.
The leaflet shows it was in this area King James was killed.
He had been heading for the leader of the English forces who was in this area, just a little higher up the bank.
We continued around the fields of the Battlefield Trail.
At the top we crossed down onto the road, we should have stayed in the field and had the views across the valley.
We walked through the village and came to St Paul's Church and it's sign about after the Battle.
It was only a short walk back to the car. It had been an interesting walk, we had covered over 5km with a 90m climb.
More to follow.
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
Follow link to yesterdays walk Ford and Etal with a visit to The Duddo Stones.
Follow link to tomorrows walk Beadnell to Bamburgh
I find it quite overwhelming to walk on the spot which, in just three hours one afternoon, saw at least 12,000 deaths – possibly up to 19,000. It’s scarcely possible to comprehend the enormity.
ReplyDeleteYou are right JohnB especially as it was so peaceful and quite on our visit. We just could not comprehend the large numbers. If it wasn't for the Memorial which we could see most of our way round the Trail and the boards telling us what had happened you would never know.
ReplyDelete