Barrell

The memorial at Culloden stands on the moorland where the '45 Rebellion came to a bloody end in 1746, and it's genuinely moving stuff. This is where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Highland forces were slaughtered in less than an hour - around 1,500 Jacobites killed against fewer than 300 government troops. The Barrell regiment played a decisive role in that victory, and their story is woven into the landscape here.

You can walk the battlefield itself, which takes a couple of hours if you're thorough, though the actual visiting involves reading interpretation boards and absorbing the weight of what happened. The visitor centre nearby (run by the National Trust for Scotland) adds proper context - it's not just names on stone, it's the before and after of a turning point in British history. Admission to the visitor centre costs a few quid, but the battlefield walk is free.

History enthusiasts will spend half a day here easily. Families with older kids (say, ten and up) who understand historical significance will find it sobering rather than dull. Younger ones might struggle with the moorland walk and lack of interactive stuff.

Inverness is just six miles away, so it slots perfectly into a Highlands road trip. If you're staying at Ardtower Caravan Park nearby, it's a straightforward morning visit. Go on a clear day - grey drizzle suits the mood, but you'll want to see across the moor to appreciate the scale of the battlefield.