Abertarff House NTS

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Abertarff House NTS

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Abertarff House NTS, Landmark & historical place, 71 Church Street, Inverness.

The oldest house in Inverness; witnessing civil wars, Jacobite risings, and even a cheese riot! 🏠

Open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30)

16/06/2026

Have you ever seen the fort on Craig Phadrig? ⛰️

Craig Phadrig, a hill on the western edge of Inverness, is home to a fort dating back to the 4th or 5th century BCE. Archaeological evidence points to the fort being occupied again in the 6th century CE. The fort is vitrified, meaning that the structure burned so hot that the stone fused together.

In the 6th century CE, the fort was a Pictish stronghold held by King Brude, or Bridei. It's said that the fort was visited by St Columba in 563 CE, when St Columba converted the Picts to Christianity.

The fort was excavated in 1971-2 by archaeologist Alan Small, and further investigated by RCAHMS (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland) in 2013. However, the hill fort has been studied since the 18th century, and the focus of folklore for centuries.

Make sure to take a walk up to Craig Phadrig to see the walls of the fort and the beautiful views of Inverness and the surrounding landscapes.

📸 Sketch of Craig Phadrig, 'Mr Watt, Engineer' (1777)- Highland Libraries, Am Baile
📸 The Mission of St Columba to the Picts A.D. 563, William Brassey Hole - National Galleries of Scotland
📖https://www.bajr.org/craig-phadrig-research-project/

13/06/2026

Are you curious about Highland Folklore?

Head over to a historic site that has generated it's own folklore, Culloden Battlefield NTS, to experience one of Scotland's oldest traditions, storytelling.

Explore the legends and folklore of Highland and Inverness with host of The Scottish Folklore Podcast, Jenny Johnstone, who will be captivating guests with traditional Scottish storytelling.

Book tickets before they're gone!

📅 Sunday 5th July, 14:00-15:30
📍 Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre
🎟️ Booking info can be found in the link in our comments 👇

11/06/2026

Following the Protestant reformation, many historic Catholic places of worship were disbanded. For a century these cathedrals and priories were either converted to Protestant churches or simply left to deteriorate.

Following Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil Wars, Oliver Cromwell's forces would go on to occupy Scotland and had constructed citadels and forts in towns and cities across the country - Inverness included. Construction of Cromwell's fort in Inverness began in 1652 and would garrison around 1,000 soldiers. To provide material to build such an impressive structure, Cromwell had the Dominican Priory torn down and the building blocks reused to construct his giant five-sided star fort. The citadel was positioned close to where Inverness harbour is today and allowed control into and out of the Great Glen and the Moray Firth. 🧱

There was however one slight hiccup with the fort: it was completed in 1658, the year Oliver Cromwell died. The fort and garrison would remain in Inverness until 1660 when Charles II was restored to the throne. In an agreement with Scottish nobles, the forts would come down and the English soldiers sent home. Today all that remains of this once impressive fortification is this clock tower that can be found along Cromwell Road. ⏰

You can find out more about Cromwell's Citadel and Inverness during the 1600s in our exhibition - check us out today, we're open 11:00 to 15:00! 👋

08/06/2026

Have you booked your ticket for the Jacobite Afternoon Tea yet?

Time is running out to book your place! With your ticket, you'll get the chance to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, learn about the importance of tea and letter writing during the '45 Rising, and you'll get to write your very own letter using a quill, parchment, and a wax seal.

Don't miss your opportunity for an unforgettable afternoon at Culloden Battlefield NTS!

📅 18 June, 30 July, 14:00-16:00
📍 Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre
🎟️ Booking info can be found on the Culloden Eventbrite

06/06/2026

✨Today is Highland Pride 2026! ✨🏳️‍🌈

The Highland Pride parade route will be just down the road from Abertarff House, and circle the city centre before ending at Eden Court. You may be able to spot our NTS banner if you join in the celebration!

Don't forget to stop by our stall at Eden Court to hear about all things NTS, and get a bit of free merch! 🤭

05/06/2026

Just two days until the first talk in our 'Conversations at Culloden' series! 🗣

'Wolfe and the Fox' will explore the lives of two major players during the '45 Rising. Follow the stories’ of James Wolfe, a young upcoming British officer with a bright future, and Simon Fraser, a mastermind who played both sides until his chequered past finally caught up with him. 🐺🦊

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about an Abertarff relation, Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, and an influential counterpart in the Government army, James Wolfe.

Head up to Culloden Battlefield NTS on Sunday to learn more about these two interesting characters and their involvements in the '45 rising and the Battle of Culloden.

📅 Sunday 7 June, 1pm
📍 Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
🎟️ Tickets available via our Eventbrite page

📷 Painting of James Wolfe by J.S.C. Schaak, 1760, National Army Museum.
📷 Portrait of Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat by Godfrey Kneller.
📷 Fraser Sundial, located in the Abertarff garden, bearing the name of one of Fraser's familial connections.

01/06/2026

Have you ever noticed these wee features on the fence at Abertarff House?

While they are beautiful decorations for the fence, they are also symbols representing the various types of sites the NTS has the privilege to care for. We're excited to welcome you at Abertarff, and we encourage you to go out and explore other NTS locations, from islands, battlefields, and castles - they're all waiting to be explored!

What was the last NTS site you visited?

29/05/2026

Have you been looking for great activities for the kids this summer? ☀️

Then you're in luck! Culloden Battlefield NTS is hosting a summer series of fun, engaging, and creative kids events. Engage in Jacobite strategies with foam weapons, explore the fascinating animals that call the battlefield home, and unleash your creativity with Worrywarts!

There will be plenty of opportunities to attend these events from June-August. Join us for:
- Animal Adaptations (ages 6-11)
- Fight Like a Highlander (ages 9-14)
- Worrywart Workshop (ages 8 and up)
- Form Ranks! (ages 8-12)

Don't miss out on these fantastic events!

📅 June-August
📍Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre
🎟️ Booking info can be found on our Eventbrite page

27/05/2026

✨Inverness Through the Years✨

Ness Bridge has seen so much history and so many architectural designs!

Take a look at the evolution of the Ness Bridge from the 1840s all the way through 1961. The first image features a sketch of the bridge created in the 1840s, only a few short years before the Ness Suspension Bridge opened in 1855. The suspension bridge stood for just over 100 years, but was demolished in the 1950s to make way for the current bridge, which could handle the size and volume of cars of the expanding Inverness.

Until the 1940s, the speed limit was 10mph, and a traffic warden with a red flag would control traffic on the suspension bridge, making sure there were never too many cars on the bridge at once. The warden was removed at the onset of WWII, and the bridge was officially closed in 1959.

Do you miss any of the historic features of past bridges?

📸 Old Stone Bridge, Inverness - Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Joseph Cook Collection, Am Baile
📸 Demolition of Suspension Bridge, Inverness - Highland Photographic Archive, Am Baile
📸 New Ness Bridge #47 - first day of traffic on bridge, August 1961 - Derek Bethune, Am Baile

25/05/2026

In just a couple weeks, Culloden Battlefield NTS is hosting a talk, Wolfe and the Fox!

Join them for an exploration of two colourful players at odds during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. James Wolfe was a young and upcoming British officer with a bright future, and Simon Fraser, the Old Fox, a mastermind who played both sides until his chequered past finally caught up with him.

Don't miss this fascinating talk on some of the interesting characters that played a hand in the outcome of the '45 Rising.

Get your tickets now before they sell out!

📅 7th June, 1pm
📍 Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre
🎟️ Tickets available on the Culloden Eventbrite page

Drawing: Simon, Lord Fraser of Lovat - Highland Libraries, Fraser Mackintosh Collection, Am Baile
Miniature: Major (later Major-General) James Wolfe, 1750 (c), Miniature, Indian ink and pencil on paper, by James Ferguson (1710-1776), National Army Museum

Address

71 Church Street
Inverness
IV11ES

Telephone

+441463226348

Website

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/abertarff-house, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/abertarff-house-33768914225

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