Welcome to Highland 2007

The largest ever construction project undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland, the new centre combines state-of-the-art technology with a fresh look at events leading up to and following the Battle.

Visitors are taken to the very heart of the conflict in a 360° immersion film and follow the progress of real-life characters through the years leading up to and after the Jacobite Rebellion.

The film is the culmination of an interactive exhibition that follows the progress of the Jacobite army on their campaign and offers a unique insight into what life was like in Scotland at the time of the Battle. Visitors shadow a real-life character through the years of the Jacobite rebellion and find out what happened to them in the often brutal aftermath of the Battle.

According to project co-ordinator Alexander Bennett, the new exhibition aims to offer a new level of understanding of what happened on 16 April 1746.

"We are trying to portray to our visitors the brutality of war through realistic and powerful film and the accounts of real people who lived at the time”, he said.

"There are still a lot of myths about Culloden, including that it was a battle between England and Scotland. With the new interactive exhibition we have tried to bring the whole story to life and demonstrate in a very powerful way that Scots fought on both sides of the battle, often against their will.

“Culloden and its aftermath changed the course of history so it’s particularly fitting that we’ve been able to open the new centre in 2007, the year that Scotland has been celebrating Highland culture.”

The Battlefield has also undergone a transformation with a new footpath network with a variety of walks tailored to the amount of time available to visitors. Tours of the battlefield can be accompanied by new hand held audio devices which use satellite technology to provide information on what happened during the battle at strategic points.

Designed by award winning architects Gareth Hoskins and built by Morrison Construction with an emphasis on environmentally friendly features, the new centre uses sustainably sourced timber and Caithness stone, with a woodchip-burning biomass boiler plant providing the heating.

A long wall rising from the Government line bisects the building, screening the car park from the battlefield. The wall divides the building into two areas, with the new exhibition on the battlefield side and all support facilities screened from the battlefield on the other. In addition, the wall provides visitors with access to the roof, giving them a bird’s eye view of the battlefield.

Gaelic also features strongly in the new centre, with Gaelic text and music playing a prominent part in the exhibition, reflecting the large amount of Gaelic speakers who fought on both sides of the Battle.

Funding for the Culloden project was provided by The Scottish Government, The European Regional Development Fund, HIE Inverness & East Highland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, along with £1.88 million from a public appeal.

An official opening of the new centre will be held in April next year. The NTS will launch a search in the New Year to find children with ancestors who fought in the Battle to help carry out the ceremony.

Ends

Notes to editors:

The National Trust for Scotland is a charity dedicated to conserving and promoting Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy.
Culloden is the largest project undertaken by the Trust and reflects the huge impact the Battle of Culloden had on the course of world history. The project involves restoring the Battlefield to how it looked in 1746 and constructing a state-of-the-art visitor centre with interactive exhibition.
The project has received support from the following: The Scottish Executive - £3,750,000, The European Regional Development Fund - £2,300,000, HIE Inverness & East Highland - £350,000, Bòrd na Gàidhlig - £220,000.
For the latest information about Culloden call the centre on 0844 493 2159 or visit www.culloden.org.uk