Glenfinnan can be found where the road to the Isles passes the head of Loch Shiel one of Scotland's largest inland freshwater lochs and is regarded as one of the few remaining areas of true wilderness. Visitors to Glenfinnan will find some wonderful accommodation in properties that add to the beautiful scenery in around the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Grand hotels or less modest B&B accommodation.
Then on to Morar and Mallaig near to the river Finnan flows down from Glenfinnan into the Loch Here you will find the prominent Glenfinnan monument acquired by the National trust for Scotland in 1938, It commemorates Prince Charles initial landing from France on Eriskay in the Western Isles, he travelled to the mainland in a small rowing boat, coming ashore at Loch nan Uamh, just west of Glenfinnan. Here he was met by a small number of MacDonald's. He waited at Glenfinnan for a number of days as more MacDonald's, Cameron's, McPhees and MacDonnells arrived. He climbed the hill and the McPhees 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, A MacPhee (Macfie) was one of two pipers at Glenfinnan when Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his banner there in 1745.
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It was over the hill to the north that Lochiel and his Clansmen marched to join the prince convincing all to join him to march on to England. So began the rebellion that was to end in failure eight months later at the Battle of Culloden on the 16 April 1746 Many MacPhees (Macfies) followed Cameron of Lochiel in the second line into the Battle of Culloden in 1746. After Culloden, in his flight to evade government troops, Charles came to the same area again. After being hidden by loyal supporters he boarded 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. - A statue was erected in 1815 by MacDonald of Glenaladale the grandson of one of the original supporters of the uprising as a tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the princes cause.
The tower at Glenfinnan surmounted by a statue of an anonymous Highlander in a kilt, it was designed by the Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham. Hundreds of Jacobite enthusiasts gather there each year on 19 August, it was only possible to erect the monument here because in 1812 Thomas Telford had constructed the new road from Fort William to Arisaig, which passed through Glenfinnan.
The National has a visitors centre here with a exposition of Prince Charles Edward Stuart or Bonnie Prince Charlie's campaign of the Jacobite uprising and defeat of 1745,from Glenfinnan to Darby and back to Culloden. In the catholic church directly above Loch Shiel and over looking the statue is a tablet that recalls the unfortunate prince and his fateful venture, the church yard contains an old Irish church bell that hangs at ground level, Ben Nevis is visible from here being the UK's highest mountain, there are red deer dotted around the Glenfinnan Estate, The West Highland Railway from Fort William to Mallaig was completed in 1901with the famous Glenfinnan viaduct railway bridge which was used in scenes from various Harry Potter films. next to the Station are two 1950s railway carriages, one converted for bunkhouse accommodation and one into a Dining Carriage serving tea, coffee, Glenfinnan is an ideal base for anyone interested in outdoor activities and is blessed with some of the finest walks in the country, from easy low level to the more strenuous and invigorating Munros (over 3000 feet). There are tracks suitable for mountain bikes and Loch Shiel is very popular with canoeists and sea kayaks. Glenfinnan village is in Lochaber area the Jacobite steam engine runs from here to Fort William and Mallaig and ordinary trains are available the rest of the year.