Raon a’ Bhlàir

Marking the spot of the last major battle on British soil, the wild moor at Culloden is the resting place of 1,500 Jacobite and 50 Government soldiers who fought and died here in 1746. Today, you can walk along the battle lines and see the graves of the soldiers beside the memorial cairn in the centre of the battlefield.

Flags represent the front lines of both armies and show the vast scale of the battle, whilst in the centre clan markers indicate the graves of the fallen.

The numbered points on the map above relate to the following areas of interest:

1. Culloden Visitor Centre: Discover the story behind the 1745 Jacobite Rising and the Battle of Culloden, and experience our immersive battle theatre. Find out more on our Museum Highlight page.
2. Viewing platform: Look out across the whole battlefield; you may be able to see some of our cattle grazing.
3. Leanach Cottage: This little thatched cottage was used as a field hospital for Government soldiers immediately after the battle. Find out more on our Cottage Highlight page.
4. Government flags: The line of red flags mark the front line of the Government army during the battle; this is where most of the hand-to-hand fighting took place.
5. Culwhiniac enclosure: These stone walls marked the southern edge of the Jacobite army during the battle, but they were breached by the Government army.
6. Jacobite flags: The line of blue flags mark the front line of the Jacobite army during the battle.
7. Battlefield: This point lay between the two armies. Try to imagine the Highland charge thundering forward from the Jacobite line, and the cannon shot flying overhead from the Government line.
8. Grave markers: This area has the greatest concentration of stones marking the sites of mass burials. Find out more on our Memorials Highlight page.
9. The Field of the English: Traditionally, this area was thought to have been the burial site of Government soldiers killed in the battle. However, recent archaeology has shown that there are no graves in this area.

Is e monadh fiadhaich Chùil Lodair an t-àite far an robh am blàr mòr mu dheireadh air talamh Bhreatainn agus far an bheil 1,500 saighdearan Seumasach agus 50 saighdearan an Riaghaltais a shabaidich agus a bhàsaich an seo ann an 1746 air an tiodhlacadh. An-diugh, faodaidh tu coiseachd air loidhnichean nan arm agus uaighean nan saighdearan fhaicinn ri taobh a’ chàrn cuimhneachaidh ann am meadhan an raon blàir.

Tha brataichean a’ riochdachadh loidhnichean aghaidh an dà arm agus a’ sealltainn cho mòr ’s a bha am blàr, agus anns a’ mheadhan tha comharran cinnidh a’ comharrachadh uaighean nan daoine a chaidh a mharbhadh.

Mar phàirt den obair glèidhteachais againn air an làraich, bidh sinn ag obair gu cruaidh gus an talamh a thoirt air ais cho fad ’s as urrainn dhuinn dhan staid anns an robh e anns an 18mh linn. Ag obair còmhla ri sgioba nan Goireasan againn, tha gobhair agus bà Shealtainneach againn a bhios a’ feurachadh air an fhearann mar a bhiodh iad bho chionn fhada.

Tha cruth-tìre sònraichte Chùil Lodair cuideachd na dhachaigh do dh’iomadh seòrsa fiadh-bheatha, nam measg uiseagan (a tha an dà chuid a’ fuireach agus a’ briodadh air an raon blàir) agus bratagan leòmainn-tìgear gàrraidh - tha iad sin air a bhith a’ crìonadh bho na 1970an ach tha iad air àite a lorg dhaibh fhèin ann an Cùil Lodair.

’S e àite àlainn a th’ ann an gàrradh-mullaich agus dail flùraichean fiadhaich Chùil Lodair. Bidh neòineanan-mòra (leucanthemum vulgare), caorag lèana (lychnis flos-cuculi) agus fiatghail (vicia sativa) a’ gluasad sa ghaoith fhad ’s a bhios tu a’ faighinn sealladh 360-puing den raon blàir.