
Flora MacDonald's dog to become a tour guide at Inverness Castle
The statue stands near the front of Inverness Castle.The former sheriff court and prison is being redeveloped as a visitor attraction at a cost of about £30m and is due to open later this year.The project has received funding from the £315m Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, external.The castle will have an interactive "journey" taking visitors through the history of the Highlands.
Culloden on 16 April 1746 saw forces loyal to Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated by the Duke of Cumberland's government army.Fought near Inverness, it involved the deaths of about 1,600 men - 1,500 of them Jacobites.After the battle the prince and a number of his supporters went on the run across the Highlands and Hebrides.MacDonald, who was living in Benbecula, was among those who helped the prince evade capture by government redcoat soldiers.She suggested he be disguised as her serving maid for the crossing to Skye, where he was given shelter before continuing his escape to France.
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Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Daily Record
The iconic Scottish castle with history linked to Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots
The castle undergoing a redevelopment is expected to reopen later this year An iconic castle with links to two of Scotland's most famous monarchs is set to open its doors to the public again this year. However, the multi-million pound redevelopment has been delayed. The long-awaited opening of Inverness Castle as a new £30million visitor attraction has been pushed back from the planned re-opening this summer, with completion now expected later this year. The redevelopment project began in 2022 and involves transforming the former sheriff court and prison into the Inverness Castle Experience, a flagship tourism initiative led by Highland Council and High Life Highland. A spokesperson for the project said the scheme was 'a complex and specialised project', with the main construction phase still ongoing but nearing completion. Once open, the new attraction will take visitors on an interactive journey through the history, myths and landscapes of the Highlands. A virtual guide in the form of a dog named Cuillin will lead younger guests through the experience. A bistro and bar will also be part of the new offering. Earlier this year, a recruitment day was held to showcase the range of jobs being created as part of the project, which is supported by the £315million Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. In February, Highlands and Islands Enterprise increased its contribution by £863,000, bringing its total investment to £2.86million. Perched on Castle Hill overlooking the River Ness, Inverness Castle comprises two castellated buildings designed by renowned architect William Burn. The courthouse dates back to the 1830s, while the adjoining prison wing was completed in the 1840s. But the site's history stretches far beyond the Victorian era. A fortification has stood on Castle Hill since at least the 11th century, when King David I established a timber and earth castle. It replaced a stronghold previously razed by his father, Malcolm III, who defeated rival Macbeth. Over time, the site witnessed turbulent chapters involving Robert the Bruce, James I, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. During the Wars of Independence, Robert the Bruce destroyed an earlier stone-built castle in 1308 to stop English forces using it. James I later arrested and imprisoned rebellious Highland chiefs here in 1428, prompting years of retaliatory attacks from the Lords of the Isles. In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied entry to the castle by George Gordon, Earl of Huntly. After a three-day siege by her supporters, the keeper Alexander Gordon was captured and hanged. The castle changed hands repeatedly in the 17th century, occupied at various times by Royalists, Covenanters, and British government troops. Following the 1746 defeat at Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie ordered the castle destroyed. According to legend, a French soldier triggered the explosion, and was blown across the river, while his poodle survived. The site lay derelict until the 19th century, when the present courthouse and prison were constructed. It later became the seat of Inverness-shire Constabulary and remained in use until the courts service relocated in 2020. The grounds still contain the original medieval well, and the striking statue of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald, completed in 1896 by local sculptor Andrew Davidson, still looks out across the River Ness.


Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Daily Record
The beautiful Scottish island you 'must visit' where ponies roam freely
It is located in the Outer Hebrides, between South Uist and Barra. Scotland's islands make for a great day trip or staycation destination. Out of the hundreds of islands dotted around the country's coast, there are countless worth visiting. If you are looking for something a bit different for a holiday this summer season, there is one isle in the Outer Hebrides that is a hidden gem. In addition to its spectacular beaches, it is also a wildlife lover's dream. Eriskay is a small island situated between South Uist and Barra. It is connected to the former via a causeway that first opened in 2001. Home to a population of around just 140 people, Eriskay makes for a great escape if you are needing some time away from the hustle and bustle. The island has a few accommodation options dotted around, but for the most part is dominated by nature. One of Eriskay's most notable features is its resident pony population. Eriskay ponies, which roam freely on the island, are extremely rare—with only a few hundred existing worldwide. According to the Visit Outer Hebrides website, Eriskay ponies are "the last surviving native Hebridean pony breed". They are known for their hardy and people-friendly nature and generally grey colour. Meanwhile, one of the island's top beauty spots is Eriskay Beach, which is located along its northwest coast. Known for its pristine white sands and bright turquoise waters, it is a great spot for sunbathing—and even a dip in the water if you can face the cold. Eriskay Beach has received rave reviews from visitors on Google, where it has an overall rating of 4.9 out of five based on 77 reviews. Recent travellers have described the bay as "lovely" and "a must visit". Another popular beach on the island is Prince Charlie's Bay, which is found south of Eriskay Beach. Also known 'Coilleag a Phrionnsa'—Gaelic for 'the Prince's cockleshell strand'—it is among the most historic beaches in Scotland. As its name suggests, Prince Charlie's Bay has a fascinating past tied to Bonnie Prince Charlie. It is said that he first set foot on Scottish soil on the beach in 1745, ahead of the Jacobite rising. Like Eriskay Beach, Prince Charlie's Bay has earned very positive feedback from day-trippers. The beach has a rating of 4.9 out of five on Google, where recent visitors have called it "beautiful" and praised its "stunning views". There is also a popular pub and restaurant on Eriskay called Am Politician, named after a vessel that ran aground off the island in 1945. Utilising locally sourced seafood and produce, it serves up everything from snacks to three-course home-cooked meals. One recent Am Politician customer wrote: "Stopped off for some lunch. A very tasty special of kippers and then had the meal deal of soup and a sandwich which was reasonably priced. "Staff friendly and great atmosphere." Elsewhere, another highlight of Eriskay is the Category C listed St Michael's Catholic Church. Dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, the church dates back to the early 1900s. If you are interested in visiting Eriskay, the island can be reached by travelling on the ferry to South Uist from Mallaig on the mainland. Further information about what you can get up to around Eriskay can be found on the Visit Outer Hebrides website.


BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
Plan to fence off Inverness Castle with railings and gates
Highland Council has proposed fencing off Inverness Castle and its former sheriff court is being turned into a tourist attraction with landscaped council, which is leading the redevelopment, plans to put up railings and gates around the property and open the site from 08:00 to 22: work started on the transformation in 2022, the castle's grounds were open to the public at all times - though there was more restricted access to the castle's court buildings. The new Inverness Castle Experience is being redeveloped a cost of about £30m, and is due to open later this year. The plans for railings and gates were first reported in the Inverness application for the fencing is currently in Highland Council's planning system.A feature of the castle's grounds is a statue dedicated to Flora famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie evade capture after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in of the grounds also offer views over Inverness' Riverside, and towards Loch Ness in one direction and the mountain Ben Wyvis in the grounds are currently blocked off by wire fences erected due to the construction Council said the railings and gates would form part of the landscaping around the castle, and contribute to the management of the building and gardens.A spokesperson said: "It is intended that the site will be open from 08:00 until 22:00, allowing access throughout this period. "The opening hours are planned to be all year round. "We will put all necessary measures in place to ensure appropriate management of The Inverness Castle Experience building and gardens when it opens later this year."Ticket prices for the tourist attraction were announced in March. The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service moved out of the castle in redevelopment has received funding from the £315m Inverness and Highland City Region sandstone Inverness Castle was built in 1836 to plans drawn by architect William was constructed on a mound overlooking the city and the River Ness. In 1848, a building known as the North Block was added and served as a a castle had occupied the site from possibly as far back as the 11th the centuries, the fortification fell under the control of the forces of Edward I, Robert the Bruce and James I, II and 1562, it was attacked and damaged by soldiers loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, before it was almost destroyed by Royalist troops in the Prince Charlie's forces blew the castle up in 1746 to prevent it from falling into the hands of government was said that a French sergeant, who had brought his poodle with him to Scotland, set off the soldier was caught in the blast, and his body was blown across to the opposite side of the River Ness. His dog survived.