BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
On the 23rd July 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart arrived in the Outer Hebrides and first set foot on Scottish soil on the Isle of Eriskay. His aim was to regain the throne of Great Britain on behalf of his father - "The Old Chevalier" - James Stuart. The Highland clan chiefs were dismayed that he had brought no French troops, few arms and very little money to fund his campaign. Some refused outright to give him any support. After failing to convince him of the futility of his mission some clan chiefs joined him against their better judgement. The consequences were to prove disastrous to the Highland clans and their Gaelic culture.
After his defeat at the Battle of Culloden on 16th April 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie fled to the Outer Hebrides, this time with a bounty of £30,000 on his head. Charles Edward Stuart hid in the Outer Hebrides from 27th April 1746 till he left "Over the sea to Skye" with Flora MacDonald on 28th June 1746...
As you can see, our islands hold a particular significance in the story of Charles Edward Stuart and visitors can use their time here to explore this unique part of Western Isles history by following in the footsteps of the “Young Pretender” along the Outer Hebrides Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail. Click here for more information.
Below you can see details of places in the Outer Hebrides that Bonnie Prince Charlie visited, fled to and hid or was hidden in the months leading up to and following the Battle of Culloden.
This guide to Western Isles Bonnie Prince Charlie locations looks at places associated with Charles Edward Stuart on Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula, although we know that Bonnie Prince Charlie also visited North Uist, Scalpay and Lewis.
The information here is based on Dr Alasdair MacLean's "Summer Hunting a Prince" and some of the journals in Robert Forbes’s “The Lyon in Mourning”. Dates are based on "The Itinerary of Charles Edward Stuart" by Walter Biggar Blaikie.
The text for each location on the Outer Hebrides Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail is taken from a narrative believed to be written by Neil MacEachen, a man from South Uist who accompanied the Prince for most of the time he was in the islands.
Written over 250 years ago, the language is a bit quaint but provides us with a dramatic firsthand account of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s movements in the Western Isles. (Neil MacEachain's Narrative of the Wanderings of Prince Charles in the Hebrides)
THE BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE TRAIL
The Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail not only allows history buffs to retrace the steps of Bonnie Prince Charlie as he travelled through the Outer Hebrides, but also provides a guide to some of the local sites and areas of interest.
The Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail takes in areas of beautiful and dramatic scenery, and visitors can choose from a range of ‘short and easy’ to ‘long and undulating’ walks, cycle routes or Outer Hebrides Bonnie Prince Charlie locations best reached by car – meaning there is something to suit all levels of interest and ability.
The locations are listed here in chronological order of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s journey through the Western Isles for those who would like to follow his footsteps in this way. The places featured in our Bonnie Prince Charlie Outer Hebrides guide are also suitable for those who just want to do a little exploring or take off on their own adventure!!
By clicking on each location, either on the map or list view below, you will find more information on the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s time in the Hebrides, as well as more detail on accessibility to the main points of historical interest here in the Western Isles.
Head to Kildonan Museum, for more information about Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
