An author best known to big and small kids alike for his Light on Dumyat series of novels has taken on the Battle of Bannockburn for his latest work.

Rennie McOwan, who lives in Stirling, has written a factual study on the famous battle featuring all the key players, illustrations, fun facts and even ideas for children’s activities.

Bannockburn for Beginners is the ideal book for youngsters learning about the battle for the first time – or even adults wanting to gen up on their history and have a little fun with their children.

Brutal and bloody, the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314 was the most decisive victory in the Scottish Wars for Independence.

King Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated King Edward II’s army of England on the fields in the outskirts of Stirling.

This year marks the 700th anniversary of the battle and thousands of visitors flocked to Bannockburn Live, a two-day festival held at the Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre.

Bannockburn for Beginners is the third in a series of accessible books written by Rennie on various aspects of Scottish culture.

It joins Saint Andrew for Beginners and Robert Burns for Beginners.

Informal, educational and above all fun, Robert Burns for Beginners includes an introduction to the poet and his life, plus samples of his poetry and songs. Saint Andrew for Beginners reveals the life and times of the patron saint of Scotland, with a short history of the Celtic Church, an explanation of the way Andrew’s name and reputation spread to the shores of the country, and takes a brief look at the other patron saints of the British Isles.

Rennie is a distinguished writer, broadcaster and outdoorsman who has published many books and articles.

His novels and non-fiction titles have been used widely in primary and secondary schools particularly in Scotland but also as far afield as Australia and the USA. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling, the Outdoor Writer’s Guild’s Golden Eagle Award for access campaigning and outdoor writing and the Provost of Stirling’s Civic Award (Arts and Culture).

Bannockburn for Beginners, Saint Andrew for Beginners and Robert Burns for Beginners have been published by Rowan Tree Publishing, set up by Rennie’s daughter, Lesley, which focuses on publications that have a Scottish connection or theme.

Plans are in place to publish new editions of Rennie’s classic Dumyat adventure series in November.

His books are available from Waterstones in Stirling or go online to www.rowantreepublishing.co.uk