Family events bring Culloden Battlefield to life
Sponsored Editorial with National Trust for Scotland
A range of exciting new STEM based activities designed by the National Trust for Scotland have been encouraging families to get hands on with science and explore Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre through a different lens.
Families with children aged 6 – 14 have been taking part in a combination of activities, from exploring animal skulls and extracting DNA,. to decoding messages and testing invisible ink and building their own air powered rocket launchers.
Visitor Services Engagement Manager Scott Neil reveals the thinking behind the new activities: “The visitor centre features artefacts from both sides of the conflict, and the displays help to convey that pivotal moment in history and we wanted to build on that interactive element by scheduling activities specifically for our younger visitors.”
“Support from the Trust’s Audience Development Fund enabled the team at Culloden to develop a new suite of activities for local audiences and families to develop a deeper connection with the site and the role science plays in understanding our past and preserving our future.”
March 2025 saw the launch of the first activity, ‘Animal Adaptations’ where young learners had to think like scientists and investigate animal poo, extract DNA and decipher the physical features of skulls. Scott said: “It was incredible to watch these young learners actively question, test and explore for themselves. By focusing on Scotland’s incredible wildlife, including species present at Culloden, we were able to ask questions around conservation and research and highlight the important work that the Trust carries out in these fields.”
The following months saw more of this session on offer and an expansion of the range of activities, including ‘Spy School,’ which investigated the nature of Civil War with a particular focus on codes, hidden messages and cyphers. Young learners had a go at using invisible ink, testing the effects of Ultraviolet light on hidden messages and they had their own code cracking tools to take home.
Scott says there is even more to come in October: “Visitors can be sure of a warm welcome during the October Holidays. From the 21st to 25th you can choose from a range of activities including, ‘Battlefield Ballistics’ where you can explore the science behind weapons of the 18th century through hands on predicting, testing and observing, and we have a special Tabletop Wargaming Day, which will recreate epic battles in miniature.”
Visit here for event details and to book tickets.