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The Glenfinnan Monument from the air, its tower in a walled ring at the head of Loch Shiel.
Fort William

Glenfinnan Monument

A tower with a lone Highlander at the head of Loch Shiel, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745.

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Welcome

The Glenfinnan Monument stands at the head of Loch Shiel, ringed by mountains, and it marks the place where the last Jacobite rising began.

On 19 August 1745, eight months before Culloden, some 1,200 Highlanders gathered here to pledge themselves to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The royal standard was raised, a brandy shared, and they set off on the campaign to win back the British throne for the Stuarts.

The tower, 18 metres high, was built in 1815 in memory of the clansmen who died for the cause, and a lone Highlander stands on top. You can climb the tower to stand beside him and look down Loch Shiel. The National Trust for Scotland's visitor centre tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 in English and Gaelic, with a model of the gathering, and has a shop and café. Nearby the Glenfinnan Viaduct curves above the River Finnan, and the Jacobite steam train crosses it in summer. Parking is limited, so come by bus or train if you can.

Before you go

The grounds are open daily.

The visitor centre opens daily, 9.30am to 6pm in season; the monument is climbed at set times, 11am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, and can be booked online. Adults £5; parking £5, and the car park fills, so come by bus or train if you can.

Getting there
Glenfinnan; bus and train.
Visitor centre
Daily, 09:30 to 18:00 in season.
Monument
Climbs 11:00 to 12:30, 13:30 to 16:00.
Entry
Adults £5; parking £5.

Did you know

The Glenfinnan Monument and the head of Loch Shiel from the air, hills in cloud behind.
Did you know

1,200 Highlanders gathered here.

They came in August 1745 to pledge themselves to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, eight months before Culloden. The standard was raised, brandy was shared, and the campaign began.

The head of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan from the air, autumn colour on the hills.
Did you know

The tower went up seventy years later.

The monument is 18 metres high and was built in 1815. The figure on top is a lone Highlander.

The stone Highlander on top of the Glenfinnan Monument.
Did you know

You can climb it.

The stair inside is narrow and steep, and the reward at the top is the view straight down Loch Shiel.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Lochaber

At the head of Loch Shiel, ringed by mountains, a tall tower marks the spot where the last Jacobite rising began. On 19 August 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard here, and some 1,200 Highlanders gathered to follow him. The monument went up in 1815 in memory of the clansmen who died for the cause, and a lone Highlander stands on top. Climb the tower for the view down the loch. The National Trust for Scotland's visitor centre tells the story in English and Gaelic, and has a café and shop.

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Where it is

Glenfinnan.

Close byAt Glenfinnan.
  1. Saint Mary & Saint Finnan ChurchSaint Mary & Saint Finnan ChurchA Gothic church of 1873 on the hillside at Glenfinnan, looking down Loch Shiel, its bell hung outside.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Glenfinnan ViaductGlenfinnan ViaductTwenty-one concrete arches curving over the River Finnan, carrying the West Highland Line and the Jacobite since 1901.Under a mile 2 min by road
  3. Loch EiltLoch EiltA long loch beside the Road to the Isles and the West Highland line, whose little pine island played Dumbledore's grave in Harry Potter.7 miles 9 min by road
  4. Corpach WreckCorpach WreckA rusting fishing boat beached on the shore of Loch Linnhe at Corpach since a storm in 2011, with Ben Nevis behind.10 miles 13 min by road
  5. The Prince's CairnThe Prince's CairnA stone cairn on the shore of Loch nan Uamh, marking where Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland for France on 20 September 1746.14 miles 18 min by road
  6. Jacobite Steam TrainJacobite Steam TrainA steam train from Fort William to Mallaig and back, 84 miles over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, in summer.17 miles 27 min by road
Directions

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The Daily for 17 October, from Scotland with love. A wide waterfall churns over rock ledges, autumn trees lining the gorge.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the monument, and when each is next free.

A white harled house with a slated roof sits behind a clipped hedge along a gravel drive, hills rising behind autumn trees.Glenhurich Lodge
  • Sleeps 11
  • In Glenhurich
  • 10 miles from Glenfinnan
Check datesRiverBeds at Woodlands Glencoe
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Ballachulish
  • 16 miles from Glenfinnan
Check datesA white cottage with a grey slate roof stands behind a stone wall among trees on a hillside.The Old School
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Kingairloch
  • 18 miles from Glenfinnan
Check datesCurlew Cottage, ArdnamurchanCurlew Cottage
  • Sleeps 5
  • In Kingairloch
  • 18 miles from Glenfinnan
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in Fort WilliamAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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