In 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie ran from Culloden House buckling on his sword to fight the last land battle on British soil. Today you can visit the eerily quiet Culloden Moor where on an early spring day, the doomed Jacobite Rising of 1745 came to its bloody conclusion.

Bonnie Prince Charlie, otherwise known as Prince Charles Edward the last of the Royal Stuarts and the leader of the Jacobites, had grown up in France always believing that his true destiny was to one day return to his native land as rightful ruler. He would sail to Scotland and form an army of loyal clansmen. They would march down the glens, through the towns and villages, across the border into England and once and for all, defeat the Hanoverian kings and restore the Stuarts to power. At first the plan looked like it might succeed, and with a series of victories the army actually did invade England and came close to marching on London. But the English Jacobites did not rise up to join them-life under Hanoverian rule was relatively peaceful and prosperous--and the prince's Highland followers became disillusioned, homesick and started heading home. Before he knew it, Bonnie Prince Charlie was back in the Highlands hearing of the slow advance of Government troops, headed by the king's son, the Duke of Cumberland, towards him. What would any fugitive Prince do? Use Culloden House as his headquarters for one thing.

The Battle of Culloden took place on Culloden estate lands, just outside the park walls, less than two miles from the house. Poorly fed, tired and demoralized, the Jacobite army was crushed and the young Stuart prince narrowly escaped back to France. The atrocities that followed the battle so shamed the Government that even today, no British Regiment bears Culloden as a battle honour.

Start with a visit to the excellent interpretive center at Culloden Battlefield then take time to walk the battlefield, read the markers where the various clansmen stood and died and follow the strategy of the battle. There is an excellent audio visual programme and living history exhibits here as well. Open year round, except during January and December 24-26. Tel: (0)1463 790607.

Directions from Culloden House to Culloden Battlefield: Turn right at barn church, go through first light, and just before second light, turn left. Follow the road to the end and turn left onto the B9006. A couple miles from the Battlefield are the Clava Cairns, neolithic burial mounds. There is no fancy tourist center and no guided tours, just a narrow, country lane that leads to the bottom of a tiny valley, ending in a lush meadow with ancient trees, soft grass, the requisite sheeps and cows nearby and several amazing pre-historic burial sites. This site is not usually crowded so you can wander in silence through the burial ground and imagine that, thousands of years ago, people much like us stood on the very spot of ground where you now stand.

Directions from Culloden Battlefield to Clava Cairns: Continue driving down the B9006 and take the first right. About a hundred yards further on you'll come to a crossroads with the B851. Continue straight to the follow the road you are on. You'll head down hill and cross a bridge over the River Nairn. Turn right and park the car.

After a day of touring, head back to Culloden House for afternoon tea and perhaps a sauna before dinner.