This month, April 16th to be precise, marks the 275th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden. Also known as the Battle of Drummossie, it was the final battle of the “Forty-five Rebellion”. Bonnie Prince Charlie led an army of Jacobites against British forces led by the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden, a few miles east of Inverness.
The Jacobites were hugely outnumbered and although the battle lasted a mere 40 minutes, well over 1,000 Scots were killed. An estimated 1,000 more would be hunted down and killed in the following weeks. Charlie eventually escaped to France. He lived the remained of life in exile in Europe, dying in Rome in 1788. Culloden was the end of the Jacobite attempts to bring the Stuart name back to the throne.
The National Trust for Scotland now manage the battlefield and it is open to daily visitors. The Visitor Centre features artefacts recovered from the battlefield, interactive displays, and an immersion theatre experience to allow you to go back in time to the very heart of the battle. While at Culloden, you can also visit the carefully restored Leanach Cottage, built in the 18th century and thatched with local heather.
For further information, including entry fees and any COVID admission restrictions, visit the Culloden website.
