Killiecrankie- Soldiers of Killiecrankie Battle Weekend

The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought on 27th July 1689 between the forces of the Jacobite highlanders supporting deposed King James II and the army of his son-in-law William of Orange, who had assumed the throne the year before together with his wife Mary (James’ daughter). Though the Jacobites were victorious at the battle, their luck soon ran out; their military leader Bonnie Dundee was a victim of the battle and James ended his life in exile. The modern event takes place on the actual battlefield on the last weekend in July (but not every year) and there is a large living history camp, displays by Jacobite cavalry, skirmishes, battlefield tours and talks and a wealth of stalls suitable to the period, including food & drink. There’s sometimes a ceilidh on Saturday evening and the event usually ends with a wreath laying ceremony in memory of the fallen, at the Battlefield Memorial on the Sunday (which is usually inaccessible to the public). When the larger event isn’t on, the anniversary is marked by smaller scale living history and talks.

Helpful Hints

In 2024 there was a small number of re-enactors telling the story of the battle at the Visitor Centre/Cafe on July 28th, with displays and weapons, but no large scale re-enactment. 2025 details are yet to be announced.

In 2022 there were two smaller-scale living history weekends at the Visitor Centre on 23rd & 24th July and 30th and 31st of July instead of a single large event. In 2018 tickets for the large-scale event cost £7 and it was good value for money as there was plenty to keep visitors busy all day (whatever the weather!).

Free parking is available on-site.

Click here for the Visitor Centre & Cafe: https://www.eatatkilliecrankie.co.uk

Click here for the event website: http://www.soldiersofkilliecrankie.co.uk

and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SoldiersOfKilliecrankie/?rc=p