Forests filled with song for Culloden path network opening
The woods surrounding Culloden Moor will be filled with music on 17 August. A free event featuring traditional musicians will take place between 2 and 4pm to celebrate the opening of the new Culloden Battlefield path. Visitors are invited to come along to enjoy the beautiful music while walking, riding or cycling on the new network.
Musicians include Abigail Millar Todd, Fiddle Forte, the Full Tilt Ceilidh Band, the Kiltearn Fiddlers, Donald Jack and Innes White.
Katey Boal, Learning Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the 6 mile route through fields and forests. The event is about getting out side, enjoying our local landscape and exploring our culture. In addition to the music, Interspersed along the path are benches that investigate the history of the land.”
Visitors can join the path anywhere along the trail and maps are available in advance from Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre.
Councillor Thomas Prag said: “This has been a great example of partnership – local landowners, council and others have broken down fences (literally!) and created a terrific new resource for locals and visitors – well done all for sticking with it! The opening day will be magical – I can’t wait.”
Councillor Ken Gowans said: “This event provides a great opportunity to be one of the first to try the new trails. While many people will be very familiar with the battlefield the trails allow folk to experience the wider battlefield area. The trail will also be enjoyed by locals who are able to use it year round and by schools for educational visits to the area.”
The Culloden trail is the innovative creation of a partnership consisting of the National Trust for Scotland, The Highland Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and Balloch Community Council. Work on the path could not have been achieved without the generous support of landowners in the communities that are linked by the path.
The Scottish Government/LEADER-funded trail runs through historic sites (such as the Cumberland Stone) as well as the battlefield, plus local communities, fields and forests.