Waymarkers go in for Littleferry battle trail to commemorate Highland 'running fight' on eve of iconic Culloden turning point
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A START has been made on installing waymarkers for a battlefield trail which it is hoped will attract hundreds of visitors to a Highland community.
The trail is part of an ambitious initiative to commemorate the Battle of Littleferry – a "running fight" conducted over a four-mile stretch from Dunrobin Castle to Littleferry, and which took place in 1746 on the eve of the Battle of Culloden.
Two out of six markers have already been erected, with Sandy Mackay of Golspie invited to perform the honours and cut the turf for one of the trail posts.
Sandy is originally from Embo where several Mackays involved in the battle eventually settled – it is thought that many residents in the seaside village are descendants.
Meanwhile Major General Patrick Marriott, who instigated the memorial project, is putting the finishing touches to a book he has written about the battle and which will also serve as a guide to the trail.
He said that tenders were currently being sought from two printers.
“It will have an initial print run of 500 and there has been a lot of interest in it from B&Bs, hotels, Dunrobin Castle, Culloden Visitors Centre and others,” said Mr Marriott.
Discussions are also ongoing with managers of Culloden Visitor Centre and it is hoped that a link will be forged between the two battle sites.
Meanwhile, plans are being formed for the grand unveiling of a memorial stone, scheduled to take place on April 15.
The huge stone is to be engraved and then erected on a site identified next to Ferry Road, at the southern end of the line of trees on Culmaily Farm and to the south west of Golspie Golf Club.
Landscaping has begun at the memorial site with several trees removed, which will be replaced by around 50 trees in memory of those who fell at the battle. Local schoolchildren could be involved in the tree planting.
A pipe tune commemorating the battle is being written by pupils at Golspie High School under the guidance of piping instructor Scott Murray
Art and story telling workshops for young people are to be held in July as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
Up to 100 men were killed in the skirmish in which Jacobites were defeated by forces loyal to the British Hanoverian government.
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