FOR those who like their history with a military edge, Scotland is fertile territory because we probably have had more battles per head of population than any other European country in history.

I know of nearly 90, and I list them below. While many were clan battles, a goodly number were the result of our centuries of feuding with the Auld Enemy. We also have a distinction that England does not have – we had plenty of land battles here after the Act of Union in 1707, while none happened at all in England, unless you count the Battle of Britain in 1940, and that was fought in the skies.

We jealously preserve our history as a warlike nation. Just over two years ago, when the BBC carried out a poll to find the most significant battle in British history, the vote went to Bannockburn with 33 per cent of those who took part opting for that decisive battle in 1314 which made Scotland an independent nation, at least for the next 400 years. I suspect a lot of Scots decided to vote …

Yet we do not know the exact location of the Battle of Bannockburn. Historians and archaeologists still cannot agree on where it took place or what precisely happened.

Yes, it was somewhere around the Bannock Burn and yes, Robert the Bruce’s inspired leadership and tactics won the day. But we don’t know exactly how many took part, how many died or were wounded, or if the Bruce really did kill Henry de Bohun in single combat before the start.

Personally, I think the most significant battle in British history was that of Brunanburh in 937AD, fought somewhere in the north of England – Cheshire is the favoured location of most historians of the period though Yorkshire has a claim – between the unified Anglo-Saxon force of Athelstan against the combined might of the Kings of Strathclyde, Alba and Dublin with some Viking assistance. It was known to ancient historians simply as the Great War, but again we know very little about it except that the Scottish contingent went home a beaten army and the nation we now know as England was the consequence.

Apart from my list, there are plenty other battles in Scottish history for which there is little or no real evidence and they are generally discounted by historians. The conflict which saw most battles in Scotland was not even started here – it was the War of the Three Kingdoms, the Civil War that saw Charles I lose his head and Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army conquer Scotland.

We are not going into all the battles listed because there is not enough room in the entire National to write about the debates which surround them and particularly the battlefields on which they were fought.

At this point I want to pay tribute to the wonderful work done by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and their researchers and academics who compile the official Inventory of Historic Battlefields. I also want to praise the Scottish Battlefields Trust for the work it does in promoting knowledge about these important sites in our country’s history.

Truly, without them we would be much less knowledgeable about the part that war and martial conflict has played in Scottish history.

I am grateful to Mr William JS Todd of Stirling for sending me an account of his recent dealings with the designations team at HES over his attempt to have the Battle of the Pass of Brander in 1308 put on the inventory – it is astonishing but welcome fact that any member of the public who thinks a battle is worthy of inclusion can apply to have it looked into.

Unfortunately for Mr Todd, HES has concluded that the battlefield cannot be identified and therefore cannot be listed on the inventory, for unlike, say, Bannockburn, we do not know enough to say the battle took place near anywhere other than somewhere around Ben Cruachan and the Pass of Brander.

We know of the battle because of John Barbour’s epic poem The Brus or The Bruce. HES’s report is thorough and painstaking but, like everyone else, they have to take Barbour’s word for what happened.

Here’s what they said: “The Battle of the Pass of Brander, also known as the Battle of Brander, the Battle of Ben Cruachan or the Battle of Fanans, was an important engagement in 1308 during the First War of Independence.

It took place on or near the slopes of Ben Cruachan, Argyll, between the followers of King Robert I “the Bruce” and John MacDougall – also known as John of Lorne or John Bacach (the lame) – son of the Lord of Argyll, Alexander MacDougall.

“Bruce’s victory led to the surrender of Dunstaffnage Castle and his gaining effective control of Argyll. The battle represents a significant turning point in the Wars of Independence for Robert the Bruce. The increase in support for Bruce in the west allowed him to focus on challenging English power in Scotland, leading to his most famous victory at Bannockburn six years later.

“If the events occurred as described by Barbour, this battle appears to be unique during the First War of Independence because of the ambush and counter-ambush tactics adopted by both sides, as well as the coordination of a lightly armed but swift outflanking force led by Sir James Douglas. Barbour’s account also demonstrates Robert I’s growing tactical experience as well as the quality and discipline of the men under his command during this period.”

HES concluded that the battlefield may be within two general areas. The first is the northern end of Loch Awe, in the Pass of Brander on the southern slopes of Ben Cruachan, a key strategic access route linking Loch Awe, Loch Etive and the Atlantic coast to the west.

The report states: “Within the pass is the traditional location of the battle, and it is from this that its name has been taken, although Barbour only names Ben Cruachan as a location. The second general location is along the southern side of Loch Etive, near Barran Dubh on the northern slopes of Ben Cruachan. Although there are fewer places which match Barbour’s description on this side of the mountain, there are some, and it more directly matches the statement that the slope reached “down to the sea” as Loch Etive is a sea loch, unlike Loch Awe.”

WHEREVER it was, Bruce used the landscape to outfox his enemies, and that’s why HES thinks there are three possible specific locations.

“There is no shortage of rivers or streams on Ben Cruachan, but there are fewer which fit Barbour’s description of the ‘wide and fast’ stream which the Lorne men retreated to during the rout.

“One is the Allt Cruachan, which forms the Falls of Brander at lower levels … a second possibility is the Allt Brander or the River Brander itself … a third site lies between Loch Etive and the northern slopes of Ben Cruachan, with the stream being the River Noe or one of the smaller watercourses leading from Ben Cruachan into the loch.”

The report concludes: “Without further evidence, it is not currently possible with any degree of certainty to say which of these locations is correct, if indeed any of them are. Therefore, it is not currently possible locate the action on a map with enough certainty to define it.” Dr Iain Banks and Dr Tony Pollard at Glasgow University’s Centre for Battlefield Archaeology carried out the original research for the inventory, which has been going for five years now.

Banks said at the time: “These sites preserve the last traces of historical events that shaped the nation of Scotland through history, and there is no substitute for visiting the battlefields for understanding what happened in each battle.

“What we have found when researching the battlefields is that there is never any difficulty in persuading people of the importance of a particular site.

“We have been really astonished at the high levels of enthusiasm for the preservation of battlefields at the local level – people are fascinated by them and want to see them preserved. The most difficult job has been explaining why individual battlefields have not made it on to the inventory.”

So it is with Brander. One of the most famous battles and indeed the very first recorded battle in Scotland which has also not made it into the inventory is Mons Graupius in AD 83 or 84. The battle, as recorded by the historian Tacitus, saw Rome’s 9th Hispana legiona, its cohorts and Roman cavalry defeat supposedly 30,000 Caledonians led by Calgacus, the first named Scot in written history.

Tacitus should know what went on, because his father-in-law, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, led the Romans that day. Sadly, the historian left out some fairly basic details, such as where the battle took place.

Dunning in Perthshire, Carpow in Fife, Bennachie in Aberdeenshire, Kempstone Hill near the known Roman camp at Raedykes and even Culloden – yep, the same place – have all been suggested, but the truth is we simply do not know where the battlefield was and that’s why it is not on the list.

The “Battle” of Carberry Hill is also not on the inventory – nor is it on my list, for the simple reason that there was no actual battle. The HES report gets it right: “Although the forces of the two opposing sides do gather and form in preparation for battle, there is no actual engagement between them, as the situation is peacefully resolved by Queen Mary’s voluntary surrender.

“As for the location where Mary is taken into captivity, there is an argument that it is a location of historic significance in its own right, however it lies outwith the remit and criteria for inclusion on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields.”

I have to agree with HES on that matter, but if any reader has a real inkling about a possible battlefield, or if any battlefield researcher, metal detectorist or archaeologist can help William Todd with the Brander case, please let me know.

Just to help, here’s my own list of battles in Scotland in chronological order. Those marked with an asterisk are in the inventory. The rest all have some historical evidence for their existence, to a greater or lesser degree. We Scots really did spend a lot of time fighting …

Mons Graupius, 84; Degsastan, 603; Dun Nechtain (Nechtansmere), 685; Athelstaneford, 823; Dollar, 865; Carham (part of Scottish-claimed territory at the time), 1018; Lumphanan, 1057; Stracathro, 1130; Renfrew, 1164; Mam Garvia, 1187; Largs, 1263; Dunbar I, 1296*; Stirling Bridge, 1297; Falkirk I, 1298; Roslin, 1303; Happrew, 1304; Dalrigh (Dalry) 1306; Methven, 1306; Glen Trool, 1307; Loudon Hill, 1307*; Slioch, 1307; Inverurie (Barra), 1308*; Pass of Brander, 1308; Bannockburn, 1314; Dupplin Muir, 1332; Annan, 1332; Dornock, 1333; Boroughmuir, 1335; Culblean, 1335; Drumlui, 1337; Invernahavon, 1337; Drumlui, 1337; North Inch, 1396; Nesbit Moor, 1402; Harlaw, 1411*; Corpach, 1429; Inverlochy I, 1431*; Piperdean, 1436; Sark, 1448; Bealach nam Broig, 1452; Arkinholm, 1455; Bloody Bay, between 1480 and 1483; Lochmaber Fair, 1484; Aldy Charrish (Auldicharish) 1487; Sauchieburn, 1488*; Blar Na Pairce, (Battle of the Park) between 1485 and 1491; Drumchatt, 1497; Skirmish Hill (Darnick), 1526*; Linlithgow Bridge, 1526*; Solway Moss, 1542; Blar na Leine (Battle of the Shirts), 1544*; Ancrum Moor, 1545*; Pinkie Cleugh, 1547*; Corrichie, 1562; Langside, 1568*; Glenlivet, 1594*; Coire Na Creiche, 1601; Morar, 1602; Glen Fruin, 1603; Aberdeen I, 1644; Tippermuir, 1644*; Alford, 1645*; Annan Moor, 1645, Auldearn, 1645*; Inverlochy II, 1645*; Kilsyth, 1645*; Philiphaugh, 1645*; Aberdeen II, 1646; Mauchline Muir, 1648; Stirling, 1648; Carbisdale (Invercarron), 1650*; Hamilton, 1650; Dunbar II, 1650*; Inverkeithing, 1651*; Dalnaspidal, 1654*; Rullion Green, 1666*; Drumclog, 1679*; Bothwell Bridge, 1679*; Mulroy, 1688*; Dunkeld, 1689*; Killiecrankie, 1689*; Cromdale, 1690*; Sherrifmuir, 1715*; Glenshiel, 1719*; Prestonpans, 1745*; Falkirk Muir, 1746*, Culloden, 1746*.