Glenfinnan Monument

Overview

Alert warning

From Monday 11 November, our car park will be closed for approximately 4 weeks while our visitor centre’s waste-water treatment system receives a major upgrade. Our visitor centre will remain open as usual throughout the work. Visitors arriving by car or motorhome will still be able to park in the community car park; our coach parking area will remain open as normal. Accessible parking will also be available in the coach parking area.

About this place

Moving tribute to those who died fighting for the Jacobite cause, framed by dramatic Highland scenery

Raise your bonnet to the lone Highlander on top of Glenfinnan Monument and take the dizzying climb up the tower for an unrivalled view of Loch Shiel.
Discover the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1745 Jacobite Rising in our informative visitor centre and find out about the clans that supported him.
Immerse yourself in the magical setting of a Harry Potter film location and witness the ‘Hogwarts Express’ steam train crossing the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Refuel at our Viaduct View Café (spring to autumn) for takeaway treats, including the tastiest chips around, decadent burgers and artisan hot dogs. Our Monument View Café takes over in winter, serving hot drinks, soups and pasties.

Surrounded by mountains on the shores of Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan Monument is a Highland gem and a tranquil spot from which to imagine the day when one of the most important events in Scottish history began here: the 1745 Jacobite Rising.

Eight months before the Battle of Culloden, 1,200 Highlanders gathered in Glenfinnan to pledge their allegiance to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. After raising the royal standard (flag) and sharing a brandy, they set off on a fateful campaign to regain the British throne for a Stuart king.

In 1815, the 18m-high monument was built as a poignant reminder of the clansmen who gave their lives to the Jacobite cause. Today you can climb to the top and stand beside the lone Highlander for a unique Highland panorama.

Our visitor centre, with its café and gift shop, is the perfect gateway to explore all Glenfinnan’s attractions. These include the famous railway viaduct, the historic train station and museum, the beautiful Church of St Mary and St Finnan, plus many riverside, lochside and mountain walks and cycle rides.

Discover the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the origins of the ’45 and the impact it’s had on Scottish history over the last three centuries in a fascinating exhibition in English and Gaelic. There’s also Jacobite artefacts and an intricate model re-creating the moment of the 1745 Gathering – a favourite with every child who visits!