Speyside Historical Tours

The Battle of Culloden – Jacobite History

The county of Moray is rich in its’ History and notably the Battle of Culloden fought between the Jacobite Clans and the British army in 1746 immediately springs to mind. The Jacobite uprising has been glorified in recent years after the brilliant TV movie “Outlander” came onto our screens. The new visitor centre at Culloden was opened in 2007 and is truly well worth a visit. The battle only lasted some forty-five minutes before the British troops completely annihilated the Jacobite army and as one walks around the battle ground there is a true sense of the tragic atmosphere.

Historic Castles of Moray

Public Castle Tours

There are three notable Castles of particular interest in this area that are well worth a visit and open to the public, these being Brodie Castle, Cawdor Castle and Ballindalloch Castle by the River Spey.

Darnaway Castle – Seat of the Earls of Moray

Darnaway Castle, also known as Tarnaway Castle, is located in Darnaway Forest and very close to Bradbush on the Darnaway Estate. This was Comyn land given to Thomas Randolph along with the Earldom of Moray by King Robert I. The Castle has remained the seat of the Earls of Moray since that time. Rebuilt in 1810 it retains the original old banqueting hall, which can be dated back to 1450 and retains its original hammer beam roof, making it only one of two mediaeval halls in Scotland. Darnaway Castle is not open to the public, only on certain open days.

Randolph’s Leap & River Heritage

To the South of Darnaway Castle at Logie where the River Findhorn cascades through a gorge, Randolph’s Leap celebrates the sort of long jumping usually associated with Rob Roy MacGregor! However, the leap was probably not attempted by Earl Randolph, but by his quarry Alastair Comyn of Dunphail. The nearby Logie Steading is home to the River Findhorn Heritage Centre, where more can be learnt about the tale of Randolph’s Leap and well worth a visit. The great Moray floods of 1829, known locally as “The Muckle Spate” are also recorded at Randolph’s Leap, whereafter several days of heavy rain on August 2nd, the River Findhorn rose by some fifty to sixty feet causing severe damage and destruction of bridges and to the town of Forres.