Prince Charles Glenfinnan Monument

The monument, situated on the scenic Road to the Isles, is set amid superb Highland scenery at the head of Loch Shiel.It was erected in 1815 in tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the Jacobite cause. Prince Charles Edward Stuart's standard was raised near here over 250 years ago in 1745. Despite its inspired beginnings, the campaign came to a grim conclusion on Culloden battlefield in1746.
Prince Charles initially landed from France on Eriskay in the Western Isles. He then travelled to the mainland in a small rowing boat, coming ashore at Loch nan Uamh, just west of Glenfinnan. Here he was met a small number of MacDonalds. He waited at Glenfinnan for a number of days as more MacDonalds, Camerons and Macdonnells arrived. When he judged he had enough support, he climbed the hill and raised his royal standard, on Monday 19 August 1745, and claimed the Scottish and the English thrones in the name of his father James Stuart ('the Old Pretender'); brandy was distributed in celebration. So began the rebellion that was to end in failure eight months later at the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746). From this spot, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his followers made it as far south as Derby before their eventual defeat the following year at Culloden.
After Culloden, in his flight to evade government troops, Charles came to the same area again. After being hidden by loyal supporters he borded a French frigate at the shores of Loch nan Uamh, close to where he had landed and raised his standard. Today The Prince's Cairn marks the spot from which he departed.
The Glenfinnan Monument was designed by the Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham, and was erected in 1815 by Alesander Macdonald of Glenaladale as a tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the cause of the Stuarts. In the Visitors Centre is an exhibition, Glenfinnan and the '45, and commentary in four languages about the raisin of the standard at Glenfinnan.

On A830. 18 miles west of Fort William