4 Things Not to Miss in Inverness

Located on in northern Scotland, Inverness is a good sized city on the far side of the Scottish Highlands. From history to music to nature, this area has plenty to offer its visitors.

1. Culloden Battlefield

The Culloden Battlefield is the sight of the last Jacobite Rebellion. If you know next to nothing about Scottish history, as I did before arriving in the northern United Kingdom, the Jacobite Rebellion was essentially about who should be king. Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie / The Young Pretender) thought his Stuart blood gave him the right to rule. He gathered most Scottish klans to his side and they rose against their British neighbors/oppressors.

It didn’t end well.

Even if you don’t know much about this period of history, the Culloden Battlefield is worth a visit simply for the museum and atmosphere. Though I came in as ignorant as anyone, this remains one of my top five experiences in all of Scotland.

As you enter the museum, you’ll go down long hallways marked by the timeline of the rebellion. When the nation splits, so does the room. One side holds the British story. The other tells the Scottish or Jacobite. You crisscross the room as you go, reading about the events and listening to personal accounts from supporters on both ends of the spectrum. It’s a brilliant layout.

There are other interactive opportunities–including a room with screens on all four walls where you can stand in the center of the battle.

Halfway through the museum, you are given a GPS and headphones then sent out into the battlefield itself. As you wander the marked paths, your GPS will trigger audio recordings. You’ll hear snatches of stories from the battle that play while you stand in the spot where they happened. The battlefield itself is eerily silent, and you should take a break by sitting on one of the benches and enjoying the windblown landscape.

Alyssa Hollingsworth / Own Work

You’ll re-enter the museum to learn about the aftermath. If you’re in need of refreshments, there’s a small cafeteria with scones and tea aplenty.

To get to Culloden, you can drive from Inverness, catch a bus, or take a taxi. The cost of the ride is well worth it.