If you watched the popular Outlander then we can expect you know a little about Culloden Battlefield. We would love to say you can meet Jamie Fraser but it is not likely… however a visit to the battlefield and visitor centre is a must do when visiting the area.
On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head. Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. This was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,500 men were slain – more than 1,000 of them Jacobites. It changed life in the Highlands forever.
The museum and visit is quite remarkable and the way they show the story is quite overwhelming.
The walk around the battlefield is interesting but please bring warm clothes as the moor is exposed and can be chilly depending on what Scottish weather offering.
A visit to Culloden is a touching experience. Headstones mark the graves of so many clansmen who gave their lives for the Jacobite cause; a 6m-high memorial cairn honours the fallen; and an eerie silence often falls across the moor – there is no escaping the emotions Culloden evokes.
A must when visiting the area. To find out more visit https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden
Photo credits: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins / Kenny Lam