Line-up announced for Bannockburn anniversary event

The 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn will be marked this summer with a large-scale re-enactment of the legendary clash.

More than 300 battle performers will be joined by musicians, artists and comedians at the Bannockburn Live festival in June.

Concerns were raised about the event after it was cut from three days to two amid worries over ticket sales.

But tourism bosses insisted the weekend will be "an amazing experience".

Bannockburn Live will be held at the site of the historic battlefield, near Stirling, on 28 and 29 June.

Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean, Karine Polwart and Rachel Sermanni will be among the musicians appearing at the event, which will also feature a massive re-enactment of the 1314 battle by more than 300 warriors and camp followers.

Hundreds of actors will recreate the historic battle three times a day at Bannockburn Live

The "brutally realistic" display will take place three times each day, with battles choreographed by Clanranald, who have worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator, Robin Hood and Thor 2.

Almost 40 clans from across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK will converge to mark the occasion.

Clanranald director Malin Heen-Allan said: "We want to show what it took for an army to march, so we have a kitchen, a blacksmith, a hospital - every aspect an army would need for a campaign like Bannockburn.

"The battle itself took place over two days but we have 30 minutes to try and give the essence of what it was like to be there 700 years ago.

"We have a combat team that regularly work in films and TV, and for this they have been training with 12ft spears that Robert the Bruce used at Bannockburn to prevent cavalry charges."

Conservative tourism spokesman Murdo Fraser raised fears earlier this month about poor ticket sales for the event, and clan chiefs voiced worries about a lack of marketing.

Celebrating heritage

However tourism minster Fergus Ewing, who unveiled the official schedule at Stirling Castle, said the event would be "a memorable family weekend".

He said: "Bannockburn Live is attracting people from across the globe with an affinity to Scotland, and given the focus on Scotland's past I am delighted that 39 individual clan organisations are participating in the event.

"It will celebrate the very best of Scotland's food and drink, our assets as a country of natural beauty as well as our rich creativity and cultural and ancestral heritage."

Mike Cantlay, chairman of event organisers VisitScotland, said there was "an exceptional amount of activity planned".

He said: "All the performers, from those with swords to those with musical instruments, are incredible, and it is an honour to have such world-renowned Scottish stars as Dougie MacLean and Julie Fowlis perform in the atmospheric surroundings of the Bannock Burn.

"It's going to be an amazing experience for young and old."