{"id":2273,"date":"2011-03-01T17:25:52","date_gmt":"2011-03-01T17:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heritageandhistory.com\/contents1a\/?p=2273"},"modified":"2011-03-01T17:25:52","modified_gmt":"2011-03-01T17:25:52","slug":"robert-the-bruces-cave-gretna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heritageandhistory.com\/contents1a\/2011\/03\/robert-the-bruces-cave-gretna\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert The Bruces’ Cave – Kirkpatrick Flemming"},"content":{"rendered":"

A small cave formed in a red sandstone of a cliff on the Cove Estate in Kirkpatrick Flemming, is said to be the place where Robert the Bruce went into hiding on 1306.<\/p>\n

\"Bruce's<\/a>
A wooden walkway provides access to the cave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following defeat in the winter of 1306, King Robert the Bruce of Scotland went into hiding in a cave, to avoid capture by Edward I (Longshanks) <\/a>of England.<\/p>\n

Bruce and the Spider<\/h2>\n

It is said that Bruce spent three months living a solitary existence in this tiny cave and during this time, it is here that legend tells of\u00a0 Bruce, watching\u00a0 a spider toiling to build it’s web.<\/p>\n

The spider would make many attempts to spin his fine threads and even when it fell, it climbed up again and carried on relentlessly until the web was spun.<\/p>\n

Robert the Bruce, at an incredibly low point in his life, took inspiration from this little spider, encouraging him to try again.\u00a0 He raised an army and went on to win the famous battle of Bannockburn in 1314, after which, he finally established his claim to the Scottish throne and thus the beginning of freedom from English rule.<\/p>\n

The event is thought to have given rise to the saying ;”If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again.<\/p>\n

Gretna Cave<\/h2>\n

Small brown signs indicate the route through Kirkpatrick Flemming, just outside Gretna Green, to Bruce’s Cave.\u00a0 The route proceeds into a caravan park where hand painted signs indicate a road to the left, past some old farm implements and to a parking area in front of\u00a0 the estate house.<\/p>\n

At a building to the left of the house, tickets can be obtained ( \u00a31 each), to view the cave.\u00a0 The walk proceeds down a very pleasant path surrounded by woodland, towards Kirtle River.\u00a0 Continuing down a concrete stepped hill for a few hundred meters, the path turns through a gate and onto a wooden walk way which leads to the cave entrance.<\/p>\n

Carved out of the red sandstone cliff, about 30 feet above the river, Kirtle Water, the cave is about 12 feet in diameter and only about 7 feet at it’s highest point.<\/p>\n

Numerous carvings and graffitti mark visits over the years, some dated around the late 1800’s.<\/p>\n

Although access today is by a pathway provided by the local council in 1929, previous visitors had to be lowered on a rope over the overhang, from which they would swing into the cave. Needless to say, this resulted in many accidents.<\/p>\n

A stone inset above the cave entrance bears the following inscription;<\/p>\n

“Within this cave King Robert the Bruce
\nfrom Foes pursuant sought a truce
\nlike my forbears who for him fell
\nI Irving G and do guard it well”<\/p>\n