Bruce's Cave

Bruce's Cave, is believed to have started out as a natural cavity in the red sandstone that forms the cliffs above Kirtle Water in Dumfries and Galloway before being enlarged to its present size during the Neolithic period.

When Dunskellie Castle was built nearby, on the location where Cove House now stands, the cave would have been used by the local Clan Chief as a vault to store their valuables, the only banks that would have been available at the time being river banks!

So far, so mundane, but in the year 1306 this cave may have become the location for one of Scotland's greatest legends. It is one of a number of places that lay claim to being the location where Robert the Bruce watched a spider repeatedly try to build its web and took inspiration from it to never give up.

The inscription above the entrance reads:

"Within this cave kynge robert bruce

from foes pursuent soughte a truce

lyke my Forbearers who for hym fell

j ermengarde doe guard yt well"

Robert the Bruce was born in 1274 at Lochmaben Castle and was crowned King of the Scots on the 25th March 1306. There were many battles fought against the English at this time and Bruce led the Scots into them with limited success. After defeat at the Battle of Methven in June of 1306 and a narrow escape from an ambush, Bruce and his followers were scattered with Bruce heading for friendlier locations.

The Irving family who lived at Dunskellie Castle were friends and loyal supporters of the King, took him in and hid him in the cave over the winter of 1306. It was here that legend has it Robert the Bruce saw the spider at work.

The inspiration he took from the never say die attitude of the spider gave Robert the Bruce the strength he needed to continue towards his goal of a free Scotland. He left the cave and gathered a small army with Sir William Irving of Dunskellie and headed off to success after success on the battlefield. More people joined his cause which culminated on 24th June 1314 at Bannockburn, where he defeated the English in battle.