Included Culloden & Cawdor Experience
-
Port
Invergordon (Inverness), Scotland, United Kingdom
-
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
-
Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At (prices in USD)
$0
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 4¼ Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
Our drive towards the small conservation village of Cawdor takes us south over the head of the Moray Firth, before crossing the Kessock Bridge, which divides the Moray Firth from the Beauly Firth. Continuing past the Highland city of Inverness at the head of the Great Glen, we reach Cawdor, the estate village that grew around the focus of our visit, the imposing Cawdor Castle. The original 15th century castle was substantially extended during the 17th century, from which period much of the beautiful architecture we see today dates. Formerly known as Calder Castle, the name was changed in the 19th century to link the castle to the titular character of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Approached by a drawbridge that traverses a deep moat, the castle has been owned and lived in by the Clan Campbell of Cawdor since the 16th century. The castle is also noted for its impressive gardens, including a 17th century walled garden and an 18th century flower garden.
Next we'll take a short drive to the site of perhaps the most famous of all Scottish conflicts, the Battle of Culloden, the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobite Rising, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion, had been an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart, more popularly known as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ to regain the British throne for his father, James Stuart, the son of King James II and VII of England, Scotland, and Ireland. On 16 April 1746, the Battle of Culloden saw the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated by forces of the British government under the leadership of the Duke of Cumberland, thus effectively ending the Stuart cause forever.
This concludes our tour, and from here we return to our ship at Invergordon.
Please note: Wherever Included Experience tours are offered, guests are allowed to participate in only one included experience per call unless otherwise specified in the tour description. There is one flight of steps to reach the second floor of Cawdor Castle. Flash photography is not allowed inside Cawdor Castle and large bags cannot be carried inside. We advise guests to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a waterproof windbreaker. Please be sure to book your included experience in advance as space may be limited on your specific choice.