The Wallace Monument stands on Abbey Craig, a volcanic plug rising sharply from the floor of the Forth valley about two miles north-east of Stirling city centre. From the summit, William Wallace watched the English army of John de Warenne file across the wooden Stirling Bridge in September 1297, and chose his moment to attack — destroying half the army while it was still trapped on the marsh side of the river.
The monument itself is a 67-metre Victorian Gothic tower, completed in 1869 after a public subscription campaign that involved tens of thousands of Scots. The exterior is uncompromising sandstone Scottish Baronial; the interior contains four floors of exhibits including the Hall of Heroes (busts of notable Scots), the Hall of Arms with the alleged Wallace Sword, and a recreated audio diorama of Wallace's trial. The 246-step spiral staircase delivers you to an open viewing platform with one of the great panoramas in Scotland — Stirling Castle on its rock to the south-west, the Ochil Hills behind you, and on a clear day the Highlands visible to the north.
There is a free shuttle bus from the visitor centre at the foot of the hill, or a steady 15-minute walk up through woodland. Allow two hours including the climb. The site has a good café and a generous car park.