Culloden Battlefield

• Inverness-shire •

The Battle of Culloden took place on Drummossie Moor near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands on 16 April 1746.

A new, modern visitor centre was opened near the site of the Battle of Culloden in 2007. The intention in opening this was to create a venue where what happened that day could be explained while as far as possible preserving the battlefield itself.

One notable difference is that the battlefield is currently covered in shrubs and heather; during the 18th century, however, the area was used as common grazing ground, mainly for tenants of the Culloden estate. Those visiting can now walk the site by way of well-maintained footpaths and can also enjoy a panoramic view from a raised platform.

You can join a guided tour of the battlefield where an expert guide will lead you around the key areas of action on Culloden Moor, as well as visiting the memorial cairn around which lie the graves of 1,500 fallen Jacobite soldiers.

The memorial cairn at Culloden Moor.
The plaque on the cairn.
Leanach Cottage, built in the 1700s, preserved at Culloden Moor.

The Battle of Culloden

The Battle of Culloden took place in 1746 and was the final confrontation of the last Jacobite rising, as well as being the last full-scale battle to have been fought on Scottish soil.

In the centuries since it was fought a series of compelling but misleading myths have grown up about the battle of Culloden. But what is undisputed is that on 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government army under William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.

Though some surviving Jacobites continued their struggle against the British state for at least another fifteen years, the battle turned out to have finally settled a contest for the monarchy that had lasted almost 60 years.

Pricing & Opening Times

Battlefield
Open daily, all year round

Visitor Centre

1 Jan–29 Apr, closed

30 Apr–31 May, Wed–Sun, 10.00–16.001

Jun–30 Sept, daily, 10.00–17.001

Oct–23 Dec, Wed–Sun, 10.00–16.0024

Dec–3 Jan 2022, closed

Getting There

Location

Culloden

Inverness

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