Culloden

On the return journey from our trip to the West Coast we stopped off to visit Culloden, the scene of the decisive battle that effectively ended the Jacobite uprising of 1745-1746 ("the Forty Five"). It was the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil.

The National Trust for Scotland have done an excellent job of presenting the battlefield itself, but also the road to the battle, particularly as contemporary accounts vary and are contradictory on several points.

The light over Culloden Moor was very atmospheric as we wandered around the various sights. This one is taken looking up to one of the red flags which have been used to mark out the front line of the Hanoverian Government forces. Facing them are a line of blue flags which mark where the Jacobite forces, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, formed up prior to the battle commencing.

The place is desolate and windswept with views to the surrounding hills. The memorial cairn and in particular the stone markers which have been placed over the mass graves of the dead clansmen are particularly sobering.