This week’s video is of our visit to Fort George, the current home of The Black Watch

We visited in April 2023

Fort George is a fine 18th-century military fort built after the Battle of Culloden to deter any further Jacobite rebellions.  It is strategically located on a promontory jutting into the Moray Firth and is naturally well-defended as it is flanked on three sides by the sea.  It was designed to evade capture with giant heavy guns covering every angle.

Named after King George II, it was the main garrison in the Scottish Highlands.  Although intended to defend, at no point in its 250 year history has a shot ever been fired in anger from the fort.

In the late 1700s, when the Jacobite threat was over, the fort became a recruiting base and training camp for the rapidly expanding British Army.

Between 1881 and 1964 it was the depot for the Seaforth Highlanders.

Today, Fort George is home to 3^rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, more famously known as The Black Watch.

The main rampart is more than 1km in length and encloses an area the size of five football pitches

The grand magazine was designed to hold 2, 672 gunpowder barrels and is now home to a vast collection of weapons

The chapel was designed by Robert Adam

The dog cemetery is one of only two in Scotland and is the resting place of regimental mascots and officers’ dogs – it was closed off during our visit

We had a brilliant day at Fort George and we hope you enjoy watching our video.

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/mW6sFgDfJFk?si=oVJAUHiU4J5DT0gZ