An outdoor trail and app to commemorate the 750th anniversary of Robert the Bruce’s birth in North Carrick has come to life in 2024!
Trail goers can discover nine new pieces of outdoor art using the Bruce’s Web app with fun augmented reality elements and gaming challenges!
Robert the Bruce was believed to have been born at Turnberry Castle and spent much of his life in the North Carrick area of South Ayrshire which includes the towns and villages of Turnberry, Maybole, Minishant, Dunure, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Crosshill, Kirkmichael and Straiton. The villages where the trail is located form a web like shape - hence “Bruce’s Web Interactive Arts Trail”.
The Sculptures
Each piece varies in scale and materials and was designed to complement and enhance the natural landscape in a sustainable way, and link to Robert the Bruce’s life in the area.
Turnberry – Sea Gate – The Birth
Dunure – The Fish & Fire – The Feeding
Kirkoswald – Droplets – The Baptism
Maidens – Birlinn Prow – The Landing
Straiton – Twa Aixes – The Camp
Crosshill – Whitebred Shorthorn Cow – The Grazing
Kirkmichael – Spider – Ettercap
Minishant – War Horse – Cogaidh
Maybole – Mercat Cross Pillar – Lion of Carrick
As the ancient Capital of Carrick, Maybole has received a special centrepiece to Bruce’s Web, made up of a pillar telling the story of Maybole, with a 'Lion of Carrick' on top.
With the Maybole sculpture constructed separately by local artist John McKenna, the sculptures in the eight surrounding villages have been designed through a consultation process with each of the North Carrick communities.
This process was fascinating, with CRAG artist David Powell – known for his Culzean and Rozelle steel and willow sculptures – visiting each of the six primary schools to discuss the Bruce 750 project while providing an insight to his own work practice as an artist.
Thanks to funding from the UK Government and North Carrick Community Benefit Company (NCCBC), CRAG Community Arts SCIO were awarded the contract to deliver the North Carrick Communities Arts Trail, with Bruce 750 themed sculptures across ‘Bruce’s Web’.
The trail invites locals and visitors to this part of South Ayrshire to discover nine pieces of outdoor art using the Bruce’s Web app with fun augmented reality elements and gaming challenges! Trail-goers should visit www.northcarrick.com/bruces-web/ to download the app and plan their visit!