Culloden Battlefield and Cawdor Castle
We traveled farther into the Highlands to Inverness. Culloden Battlefield was the first stop. In 1746 the British defeated the Jacobitite supporters of “Bonnie Prince Charlie” and ended the uprisings. There is a modern visitors’ center with extensive exhibits. The actual battlefield is preserved and red or blue flags mark the positions of the two armies on the field. Head stones mark the mass graves of clan soldiers that fought and died there almost 300 years ago. Then on to a much older gravesite, Clava Cains. It is speculated Bronze Age people constructed standing stones and stone mounds to bury and honor their elite tribe members. Cawdor Castle was the last stop that busy day. Beautiful sunny weather highlighted the castle, gardens and extensive surrounding grounds. The tour of the castle interior proved it to be a comfortable home for the Dowager Countess Cawdor. There is even a 9 hole golf course at this site.