- Glenfinnan
infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Glenfinnan
gaelic_name= Gleann Fhionnainn
scots_name=
population=
os_grid_reference=NM897803
latitude=56.866667
longitude=-5.45
unitary_scotland= Highland
lieutenancy_scotland=Inverness-shire
constituency_westminster=
constituency_scottish_parliament=
constituency_scottish_parliament1=
post_town= GLENFINNAN
postcode_district = PH37
postcode_area= PH
dial_code= 01397
london_distance=
edinburgh_distance=
static_
static_image_caption=The church in GlenfinnanGlenfinnan (
Scottish Gaelic : "Gleann Fhionnainn") is a village inLochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end ofLoch Shiel , at the foot of Glen Finnan.Glenfinnan Monument
The Glenfinnan Monument situated here the head of
Loch Shiel was erected in 1815 to mark the place where PrinceCharles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") raised his standard, at the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite Rising.1745–1756
Prince Charles initially landed from
France on Eriskay in the Western Isles. He then travelled to the mainland in a small rowing boat, coming ashore at Loch nan Uamh, just west of Glenfinnan. Here he was met a small number of MacDonalds. He waited at Glenfinnan for a number of days as more MacDonalds, Camerons and Macdonnells arrived. When he judged he had enough support, he climbed the hill and raised his royal standard, on Monday 19 August 1745, and claimed the Scottish and theEnglish throne s in the name of his father James Stuart ('the Old Pretender'); brandy was distributed in celebration. So began the rebellion that was to end in failure eight months later at theBattle of Culloden (16 April 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.
The memorial
In 1815, the Jacobite cause was no longer a political threat. Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale built a memorial tower at Glenfinnan surmounted by a statue of an anonymous Highlander in a kilt, to commemorate the raising of the standard. The tower 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 1812Thomas Telford had constructed the new road from Fort William toArisaig , which passed through Glenfinnan.Since 1938, the Glenfinnan Monument has been in the care of the
National Trust for Scotland . The Trust have also constructed a visitor centre, which provides tickets, information and exhibitions, and a shop, cafe, and toilets. The tower has also become a monument to Alexander Macdonald, who died before its completion.Glenfinnan railway station
About half-way along the picturesque West Highland Railway line between Fort William and
Mallaig liesGlenfinnan railway station . The Jacobite Steam Train and other trains regularly run this route, and just before arriving at Glenfinnan from the direction of Fort William, the line crosses a spectacular archedviaduct .Glenfinnan Viaduct
:"Main article:
Glenfinnan Viaduct "The viaduct was built in 1897–1901 by theengineer Sir Robert McAlpine. It has 21 arches, reaching as high as 100 ft (30m ). A plaque at the base of one of the arches commemorates the centenary of the viaduct.The Glenfinnan viaduct recently came to prominence in the
Harry Potter films, the first being "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", the second in the Harry Potter Series, when the Jacobite Steam Train became transformed into theHogwarts Express and was filmed crossing the viaduct.It also appears and will be appearing in subsequent Harry Potter films. The viaduct also appeared in the 1969 film, "Ring of Bright Water" starring Bill Travers, where in one scene, Travers is crossing the viaduct by train.Popular culture
In the Highlander universe, Connor and
Duncan MacLeod are both fictional Scots born in Glenfinnan in 1518 and 1592 respectively.External links
* [http://www.visitglenfinnan.co.uk/ Welcome to Glenfinnan]
* [http://www.strollingguides.co.uk/books/highlands/places/glenfinnan.php Photographs and Information from Strolling Guides]
* [http://www.glenfinnan.org/ Glenfinnan Community Council]
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