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Culloden

After the overthrow of James the Second in the Glorious Revolution 1688, efforts were made by the Stuarts and their supporters, known as the Jacobites, to recover the throne. The struggle against the Jacobites reached its culmination in 1745. The deposed James the Second had continued to live as "The Old Pretender" on the continent. His son Charles, "The Young Pretender" or Bonnie Prince Charlie, was put ashore in Scotland by a French ship in 1745 to see what would happen. An army of Highlanders gathered around him, and they eventually met government forces at Culloden Moor near Inverness. The government army led by the Duke of Cumberland quickly defeated the Scots, and ruthlessly killed all the wounded afterwards. Charles fled to the Isle of Skye disguised as Flora McDonald's servant girl, and from there made it to France.

The battles of Killiecrankie and Culloden were both fought in the name of the Stuarts and of Scotland, which is rather ironic when the first Stuart king, James the First, worked so hard to bring Scotland together with England. The irony of this becomes even sharper when it is recalled that these "Jacobite" struggles are usually presented as a struggle between the English and the Scots, when in fact they were also a struggle between the Highlanders and the Lowlanders of Scotland, who were traditional enemies. A large proportion of the English armies were Lowland Scots. There were even numbers of Highland Scots fighting for the government. The Clan Munro, the Clan Ross, the Clan Gunn, and the Clan Grant, amongst others, all fought for the government against the Highlanders at Culloden. The lines of nationalism are never clear. This is as true of Scotland as it is of Britain as a whole. James the First didn't have much time for such things. He just wanted people to get on.

The site of Culloden battlefield is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland who are working to preserve the area as it would have been in 1746. Dykes which were important in the battle have been reconstructed, and sheep grazing is being used to remove scrub and young trees. The site also includes the Leanach Cottage which survived the battle around it, and houses a living history presentation designed to recreate the atmosphere of the day. Tours run from mid-June to September.

There is a restaurant, and baby changing facilities. Dogs are not allowed on the battle field,although a nearby field with beautiful views is available for dog walking.

Opening Times: The restaurant, shop and visitor centre are open as follows: November to March 10am to 4pm, April to October 9am to 6pm. Closed 24th -26th December and 1st and 2nd January. The actual site is open all year daily.

Directions: Take the B9006 for five miles east from Inverness. Click here for an interactive map centred on Culloden.

Access: Visitors centre, shop and restaurant are all accessible to wheelchair users, and there is an adapted toilet. Braille guide book and raised map of the battlefield available. Audio visual presentation has a hearing loop.

Contact: 01463 794294