Culloden Battlefield
Culloden Moor, Inverness, IV2 5EU
The Culloden Battlefield was the site of one of the last battles to be fought on British soil. On April 16, 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army of 5,000 Jacobite Highlanders faced off against the Duke of Cumberland and 9,000 Hanoverian government troops. Though the Jacobites fought valiantly, they were ultimately defeated, resulting in the elimination of the Scottish clan system and the suppression of Highland culture. Today, the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre retells the events of that fateful day through interactive exhibits that put travelers in the thick of the action.
The basics
The Culloden Battlefield is a must-see site for any history buff hoping to untangle the story of the British Isles. Visitors can purchase entrance tickets to find themselves on the frontlines of one of the most important battles in British history and explore the popular site at their own pace. The battlefield is also often a stop on guided day tours from Inverness and Invergordon, most of which include round-trip transportation and visits to other famous attractions, such as Loch Ness.
Entry to Culloden is included in National Trust for Scotland Discover Tickets, 3- or 7-day sightseeing passes that grant visitors entry to a number of Scottish sights, including Culzean Castle and Country Park, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, and the Preston Mill. Many travelers combine a visit here with a trip to the nearby Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age site located just 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away. The Glen Affric & Culloden Tour from Inverness Including Admissions tour is also popular because it includes a stop at a nature reserve with waterfalls and forests of ancient Caledonian pines.
Things to know before you go
To ensure entry, it’s best to book Culloden Battlefield tickets in advance.
Purchase a family ticket (£42.00) if you have two adults and two or more children; it may be cheaper than purchasing individual tickets.
Consider investing in a National Trust membership if you plan on visiting multiple National Trust sites in Scotland; it could save you lots of money in the long run.
The center and the battlefield are both wheelchair accessible.
Audio guides are available, so visitors can take a self-guided tour of the outdoor battle site.
It’s best to wear warm clothing to walk around the windswept moor where the battle took place.
The battlefield has a cafe for light bites, and an above-average gift shop that sells local products including an exclusive Culloden Battlefield Highland Malt.
How to get there
Culloden is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Inverness, so it’s easy and affordable to reach via taxi or rideshare. Buses travel from Inverness’ city center to the site, though schedules change seasonally. Most of the time they run hourly.
If you don’t want to drive, taxi, cycle, or take public transportation, the easiest way to get to Culloden is via an organized day trip tour from Inverness. Most of these tours include hotel pickup and drop-off.
When to get there
The battlefield is open daily, and most visitors go during summer, when mild weather makes for pleasant strolling around the open-air battlefield site. The visitor center is open daily from 10am to 4pm from January 3 to March 31; from 9am to 5:30pm in April, May, September, and October; from 9am to 6pm in June and July; from 9am to 7pm in August; and from 10am to 4pm from November 1 to December 23, with varying seasonal hours in late December. It’s best to visit in the early morning to get in before the crowds, especially if you are visiting on the weekends or when school is out. Culloden Battlefield is a popular place for Scots to visit as well as international tourists.
Things to see at the Culloden Battlefield
Visitors can amble around the battlefield in Culloden Moor, where headstones pay tribute to the fallen soldiers, and the Memorial Cairn pays homage to those who died for the Jacobite cause. See where the government front line was in comparison to the Jacobite frontline. The Battlefield Walk (35 minutes) connects the two, and information panels along the way explain what you’re looking at.
The battlefield is also the setting for Leanach Cottage, a thatched residence that’s one of the few remaining examples of a common building type in the area during the early 18th century. Visitors also report sightings of highland cows, not on the battlefield itself, but nearby. While they’re friendly, they’re shy. You may also see staff dressed in period clothing for special events and demonstrations. If you want to feel like you were in the middle of the battle, watch the 360-degree immersive film shown in the museum.
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