Clan Tour - OUTLANDER series and Loch Ness

Wardlaw Mausoleum is in Wardlaw graveyard in the village of Kirkhill 8 miles west of Inverness. Built in 1634 as the burial place for the Lovat Frasers, the roof was raised and a tower was added in 1722 the then lord Lovat, The Old Fox, of the Jacobite rebellion who was later believed to be buried here. (uncle of Jamie Fraser)

Built by the Valliscaulian Monks whom lived here happily since around 1230 to 1510. It was visited in 1564 by Mary Queen of Scots and on arrival she said what a BEAU WEU or beautiful place. After the reformation the priory fell into disuse and the lead was removed in 1582. In 1652 Oliver Cromwell took some materials to build a fort in Inverness. This is where Jamie left Scotland for France .

Situated near the delightful Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer the castle has been lived in by the same family for 500 years, seat of the clan Mackenzie. The Mackenzie’s and Castle Leod were heavily involved in the Jacobite rising of 1745. Today the claymores are sheathed and guns are silent. But the memories remain.

Clootie wells are places of pilgrimage in Celtic areas they are wells of springs almost always with a tree growing near them with cloots or rags tied to the branches, as part of a healing ritual. They are also found in Cornwell and Ireland there is a less known well, known as St Marys Well near Culloden Battlefield.

Originally a 16th century Jacobean Castle and part of the house date to this time early on various owners claimed Culloden as their home ranging form King Robert 11 to the Chieftain of the Macintosh clan. In 1625 Duncan Forbes purchased Culloden from the Macintosh Clan. Bonnie Prince Charles stayed here 3 nights prior to the battle.

Fort George the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain if not Europe built to hold the English soldiers after the Battle of Culloden to supress any further Jacobite unrest. Built from 1748-1757 it has never been attacked and is still used by the British Army today. Drive by only.

Clava Cairns or prehistoric burial cairns of Bulnuaran of Clava are a group of 3 bronze age cairns. A complete of passage graves, ring cairns Kerb cairns and standing stones dating back 4000 years. The largest standing stone is said to have given Diana Gabaldon’s famous Outlander novel now a popular TV series

Culloden battle changed world history on the 16th April 1746. The Jacobite army fought to reclaim the throne of Britain from the Hanoverians for a Stuart King the British army was equally determined to stop this happening a ferocious European war had come to Scotland -dividing families and setting clan against clan. All went wrong for the Jacobite on 6th December in Derby 100 miles from London when an angry Bonnie Prince Charlie was persuaded to return to Scotland.