Glenfinnan Monument

Glenfinnan Monument stands at the head of Loch Shiel where Charles Edward Stuart raised his father's standard on 19 August 1745 and began the last Jacobite Rising. The 18-metre tower was built in 1815 by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale and topped with a lone kilted Highlander, and a narrow stair inside climbs to a platform with the finest view down the loch. The National Trust for Scotland's visitor centre tells the story of the Rising and the clans who joined it, and the same car park serves the path to the viewpoint for the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the 21-arch railway bridge made famous by the Hogwarts Express and still crossed by the Jacobite steam train in summer. Reviewers praise the shop, the two cafes and the staff, and note that a National Trust card covers the parking. Tips from regulars: the car park fills soon after opening, so arrive early or come by bus or train from Fort William, and monument climbs can be booked online.