NTS Visitor Centre in Fort William

In August 19th 1745, at the head of Loch Shiel, Prince Charles Edward Stewart raised his Standard, marking the start of his campaign to restore the exiles Stuarts to the throne. From this sport, Bonnie PRince Charlie and his followers made it as far south as Derby before their eventual defeat the following year at Culloden. The Glenfinnan Monument was designed by the Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham, and was erected in 1815 by Alexander MacDonald of Glenaladale as a tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the cause of the Stuarts. You can find out more about Bonnie Prince Charlie's at the Visitor Centre. Fans of Harry Potter, meanwhile, might recognise the viaduct nearby that features in the movies. The National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre Shop and snack bar are open Good Friday - 31 October daily 10-5; 1 July to 31 Aug, daily 9.30-5.30; November, weekends only 10-4. Monument open all year.

Nestling into the landscape at the foot of the glen is the award-winning eco-friendly Glencoe Visitor Centre. A perfect stopping-off point if you're travelling through on the A82, with a cafe, a well-stocked shop and a viewing platform. Here you can access the information point and get weather forecasts, as well as friendly advice from rangers at the outlook station. Learn more about the area with a visit to the exhibition Living on the Edge, which has exciting interactive displays and activities for adults and children. Find out what it feels like to climb on ice, discover how the glen was formed, and try your hand at solving the conservation issues faced by the Trust. During the summer, a programme of ranger-led walks and events start from the Visitor Centre. Our popular Land Rover Safaris allow visitors of all abilities to get a completely different view of the glen and its wildlife in the company of a ranger. For lots more information about the work of the National Trust for Scotland, please visit our website.