Inverness, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns

The minute for minute battle of Culloden is one of the most impactful battles the world has seen.  In just 40 minutes the government army made up of British soldiers and some Lowland Scots completely routed the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie.  Before this the Jacobite army had won most battles and was outside of London and ready to set siege on the city.  Instead the Jacobites started heading back to the highlands and the stage was set for this battle.  I can only wonder what the world would be like had the Prince taken London.  With the French backing the Prince, would the hundred years war have ended?  If so, would the colonies been able to successfully gain their independence?  Would France and England been one country as was proposed?  On a smaller scale would Scotland have simply remained an independent country and a thorn in England's side?  

The outnumbered Highlanders were thoroughly defeated on this battlefield and buried 1500 of their dead.  It is a very evocative site.  Maintained now, as it was during the battle, a moor used for grazing cattle and deciding the fate of nations.

The cattle are still grazing as they were in 1746

A few miles from the Culloden battlefield are the Clava Cairns.  While there are as many as 50 of these cairns in the Inverness area, these three have been well preserved and are in a place where the public can view them.  These Cairns and the associated standing stones are believed by many to be the inspiration for the fictional Craigh Na Dun cairns in "Outlander" series.  Next to one of the cairns is a large standing stone that some believe is the model for the time portal that Claire slipped through in the television show.  Ignoring all that, this is still an amazing spot. It was originally constructed 4,000 years ago by a bronze age culture.  The cairns were originally roof-covered so as to be completely dark until the morning of the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) when the sun would shine down the one small opening and light up the interior.  How patient these guys must have been.  Each cairn was surrounded by a circle of standing stones.

Looking in

Looking out

Along the way this extremely long aqueduct got our attention.  We were wondering if it was still in use when a passenger train went flying by.

Castle Roy stands on glacial mound near the town of Nethy Bridge.  Built in 1190 its walls are 25 feet tall. (some restoration work has been done). This is one of the oldest masonry structures in Scotland.  A pleasant little church now stands next to the castle.