| Where: | Culloden Visitor Centre - at the Memorial Cairn |
| When: | Saturday nearest 16th April |
| Time: | 10.30am Procession (approx) with Service at 11 am. |
The Battle of Culloden was fought on 16th April 1746 between the forces of Jacobite Pretender or rightful King (depending on your perspective) Bonnie Prince Charlie and the British Army under King George II’s son the Duke of Cumberland. It was the final conflict in the Stuart campaign against the Hanoverian Royal House and was the last battle fought on British soil. The Jacobite army, with a high proportion of Highlanders, was crushingly defeated by the government forces; a repressive regime ensued and Scottish life would never be the same again. Every year a service is held at the Memorial Cairn on the Battlefield to remember the dead on both sides of the conflict. Prayers and recitations are said, some in Gaelic, and representatives of numerous groups lay wreaths; members of some of the Clan families also lay flowers on the day at the individual memorial stones where their ancestors fell.
Helpful Hints
If you haven’t visited before, it’s well worth seeing the National Trust For Scotland Visitor Centre which gives a great deal of background information and interpretation of the battle, the build-up and the aftermath; there are many artefacts on show.If you arrive at opening time (9 am) you’ll get a good look around before it gets busy for the service – click the Visitor Centre link below for admission prices etc.If you don’t want to visit the Visitor Centre you can attend the Service free of charge as the Memorial Cairn is on the Moor next to it, which has free open access.
In 2025 it should be on Saturday April 19th (to be confirmed).
The procession from at 10.30 and the service starts at 11 am, lasting around an hour. Part of the service is in Gaelic and the event is organised by the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Parking and food & drink are available on site, and relevant books are on sale at the shop.
Click here for the Visitor Centre (which has many links to individual Clan societies and their events) : http://www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/Home/
Click here for the 1745 Association: http://www.1745association.org.uk
Click here for the Gaelic Society of Inverness: https://www.gsi.org.uk
The Scottish Jacobite Party will re-launch at Culloden at 11 am on April 16th.
This is a campaign for Scottish Independence. Out of the EU with the Scots Pound and a proportional tax system.
Further details are on the web site http://www.scottishjacobites.co.uk or Google
The Scottish Jacobite Party
John Black
Good on you John! Great to hear you are still extant and putting a feather up the jacksies of boorish ‘Scots’ officialdom.
Hi,
I’m part of the bikers who take part in the Memorial every year, could I please be informed of the time the event is starting, I just want to work my timings back so we can meet up as a group and ride in to the Car Park in Mass before the event starts.
Hope this is exceptable
Hi George,
The service takes place at 11 am, so you’ll need to arrive around 10.30 to be there in time for the walk to the cairn. Hope that helps 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil,
Great many thanks for the Info, see ya there.
GG
Could you tell me if the anniversary march at culloden is going ahead this year , day and time please, would like ti be there for my ancestor who fought for the cause
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your message. On the calendarcustoms site, you can find dating and other information for the next event under the Helpful Hints section of the page – you must have missed “In 2021 it should be on Saturday April 17th but all public events are cancelled.” The Visitor Centre is organising some online events to mark the anniversary- follow the link to https://www.facebook.com/cullodenbattlefield for more information.
As you can see from the photos, it’s normally a very well-attended event and there will be many disappointed people unable to visit (last year was also cancelled due to the pandemic)- however it will hopefully resume in 2022 (fingers crossed). It’s a very moving occasion even for someone without your personal family connection, so I think you’ll find it a worthwhile experience.
Best wishes,
Averil
we are travelling up friday night from west yorkshire and wondering if i bring my drone for ariel photographic shots of meeting so they can be posted on website would this be alowed from a distance
Best regards
Richard
Hi Richard,
Your message is through to calendarcustoms not the National Trust for Scotland who manage the event and the battle site. You can contact them at https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden to see what their rules are on drones – but it’s not something we have any idea about, sorry! Hope you manage to find out,
Averil
Large attendance today in fine weather. Still a bit mixed views about the laying of the wreath to commemorate those from the British army who died. One of the ex soldiers explained to us that they wanted to honour their dead as well which is fair enough but given the brutality and murder that was carried out by the British troops following the battle perhaps they could be a bit more sensitive.
Thanks Danny – it’s a delicate matter isn’t it, even after all this time feelings run very deep. Thanks for the insight.
Averil