The Culloden Battlefield was the location of the infamous 1745 Battle of Culloden. It is an easy day trip from Inverness.
Entry to the Culloden Battlefield is free of charge! Don’t be fooled into buying an entry ticket (£11) to the Culloden Visitor Centre unless you want to see the lackluster interactive display.
There are tour guides available, but online research can be sufficient to give you an understanding of the historical importance of the site.
This is how to get to Culloden Battlefield, what there is to see, and if its worth it!
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Inverness Basics
Inverness is located in the north of Scotland. The name literally means “mouth of the ness” because the River Ness empties into the Beauly Firth near Inverness, which is an inlet that leads to the ocean.
Gaelic originated in the Highlands, and is still spoken across the country. You might wander past some locals and catch a little bit of Gaelic! I found the Scottish accent to be very thick in this area, so sometimes I still couldn’t understand them, even if they were speaking English!
People often rate Inverness as one of the happiest towns in Scotland.
When to Visit Inverness
Winter in Inverness is cold and harsh. In fact, even in summer, temperatures usually don’t exceed 20°C! You should visit Inverness during the summer months of late May to the end of September, unless you’re a big fan of winter sports or you are very winter-tolerant.
When I visited, I found Inverness quiet and relaxed in July, a stark contrast to Edinburgh and London. Also, I was COLD. I wore a jumper and jacket every day, and ended up buying a scarf because I was SO cold.
TIP: Bring a RAIN JACKET! The weather in Scotland, even in summer, is SO unpredictable. The only thing you can predict is that it WILL rain at least once a day.
How to Get to Inverness
Plane
I recommend flying to London rather than flying directly to Inverness.
Firstly, because that would be BLOODY expensive, and secondly, because you’d miss out on the lovely Scottish countryside!
If you’re in a hurry, flights from London to Inverness are pretty affordable.
Train
I would recommend catching the train from either Edinburgh or London (with a stop at Edinburgh).
Pre-book your tickets well in advance and make use of railcards to get the best deal. The journey takes about 3.5 hours.
Bus
Buses to Inverness from Edinburgh are a pretty similar price to trains, but the journey will take about 4 hours.
How to get cheap train tickets in the UK?
- Make use of railcards (30% discount)
- Pre-book during early-bird sales (usually 3 month in advance)
- Check prices on different platforms
Where to Stay in Inverness
$ Hostel $
Inverness Student Hostel
8 Culduthel Rd, Inverness IV2 4AB, United Kingdom.
Inverness doesn’t have many options when it comes to hostels. Inverness Student Hostel is the closest to the centre of town and has quirky decor. You can also get brekky there for a decent price. Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
Castle Viewpoint B&B
22 Ardconnel St, Inverness IV2 3EX, United Kingdom.
I can personally vouch that the beds in this quaint b&b are the comfiest in Inverness, and potentially all of Scotland. The owner is the loveliest person and the rooms are adorable. Brekky was yum, too. It’s on a hill so it has a great view across the city. Check availability or see other options.
How to Get Cheap Accommodation
- Peak time to travel to Inverness is in summer (June-August) and around Christmas. Accommodation is the most expensive during this time. To get the best deal, travel during the off season, when beds can be as low as £20 (as of 2024). Off season includes January to early May, and September to early December.
- Book in advance, especially during the peak seasons.
- Booking via the official hostel website can sometimes (not always) get you a better deal than booking via third-party websites. However, third party websites do sometimes provide more flexibility for cancellation or changes.
How to Get Around Inverness
Inverness is a very compact, walkable city, so there is no need for tourists to use public transport.
Culloden Battlefield
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Price for Visitor Centre: Adults £16.00, Concession £14.50, Children £11.50
Website
The Culloden Battlefield can be visited for FREE! Entry tickets are only needed if you wish to visit the interactive displays inside the Visitor Centre.
How to Get to the Culloden Battlefield from Inverness
Catch bus 27 (called the Inverness – Tornigrain Village) from the Inverness Bus Station to the Culloden Battlefield.
The journey takes about 20 minutes.
Purchase your tickets on board using card or exact cash. My ticket cost me £2 in 2023.
A super brief history of the Culloden Battlefield
Jacobitism was a political movement to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British throne.
There were several Jacobite revolts, with the final Rising taking place in the last months of 1745.
Unsuccessful in their invasion of England, the Jacobites retreated to Culloden Moor and the revolt came to a head on 16 April 1746.
The battle lasted just one hour. Over 1,500 men were killed and the Jacobites were defeated.
The Battle of Culloden is famous because it marked Scottish surrender to the English and the end of Jacobitism.
Inverness Travel Essentials
SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.
Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.
Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!
How to pronounce ‘Culloden’
Just an FYI: It is pronounced ‘cuH-LOD-den’ not ‘CULL-oh-den’!
Culloden Battlefield Experience
The bus drops you off about 150 metres from the Visitors Centre.
As you approach the Visitors Centre, to the right of the door is a paved footpath that leads under a wooden archway. If you head down this path, you will reach the Culloden Battlefield.
Inside the Culloden Visitors Centre is a gift shop and cafe which I explored afterwards.
If you want to see the interactive display, check that out before visiting the Battlefield because it will give you some historical background.
Read: Ultimate UK Summer Packing List for Female Backpackers
Viewing Platform
The wooden archway is actually a staircase that leads to to a viewing platform. The platform provides panoramic views of the Battlefield; you should be able to spot Leanach Cottage and the Culloden Monument.
It is difficult to imagine the brutal battle that took place in this heathered field some 250 years ago.
Leanach Cottage
I explored the Culloden Battlefield in an anti-clockwise direction.
I followed the path to the right and soon reached Leanach Cottage.
The cottage witnessed the Battle of Culloden and served as a hospital for soldiers.
It was the first museum for the Battlefield; the people that lived there provided tours and information to visitors.
The cottage has been heavily renovated since then, with the roof being re-thatched with heather from this very field.
Quick Note about Accessibility
The Culloden Battlefield is very flat with minimal hilly areas. Paths are cleared through the heather, although they are covered in gravel (as pictured above) instead of paved. This might be something to keep in mind if you need to bring a mobility device or pram.
Culloden Monument
This memorial tower was built in the 1820’s to honour those who lost their lives during the Battle of Culloden.
About 60 years later, individual stones were placed for each clan that fought in the battle.
There are also flags to mark the front line of both armies and demonstrate the scale of the battle.
Read: Edinburgh: The Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary for Scotland’s Capital
Highland Cows
The Culloden Battlefield backs onto farmland. If you’re lucky, you might be able to spot hairy Highland cows lazing around in nearby fields.
Culloden Visitor Centre Cafe and Gift Shop
Inside the Culloden visitor centre is a cafe and gift shop.
This is a great place to warm up after walking around in the crisp Scottish air and wait for your return bus.
The gift shop sells the usual tartan-covered items, keyrings, jewellery, stuffed animals, postcards … I didn’t see any souvenirs that were strictly Culloden-inspired.
Be honest … Is the Culloden Battlefield worth visiting?
If you couldn’t tell from the pictures I have included, the Culloden Battlefield gives a whole lot more ‘field’ than ‘battle’ vibes. After all, the battle took place over 250 years ago.
Despite that, the Culloden Battlefield is a worthwhile day trip if you have spare time in Inverness. It is free if you don’t use the interactive display and even if you don’t have a strong interest in history, it is a nice place to enjoy the Scottish countryside.
If you have limited time in Inverness, then I recommend you prioritise visiting Loch Ness over the Culloden Battlefields.
Other day trips from Inverness
Loch Ness
If you’re visiting Inverness, you absolutely have to take a day trip to visit the village of Drumnadrochit and to see Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.
You can visit Loch Ness with a tour group, but if you’re on a budget, it is also really easy to do it yourself.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is another popular and worthwhile day trip from Inverness, and it is probably easiest to join a tour group.
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