Fort George Visitor Guide: Historic Scotland

“I shall be extremely glad they would do it, because I look upon that fort to be impregnable.”

Lord Ligonier, commander-in-chief of the British Army in 1759 on the prospect of a french assault

Explore this monumental fortification with us, one of the most outstanding in Europe.

Many things come to mind when thinking of Scotland, like war and magnificent structures. Being Scotland, you would typically think of castles as they would usually be involved in those categories. We love our castles, architecture, and history, especially military history. Not a castle; however, Fort George is one of the most impressive locations we have been to. Fort George is the finest example of 18th-century military engineering anywhere in the British Isles; the scale is monumental. Because of this, it is one of the most outstanding fortifications in Europe.

Strategically located on a peninsula jutting into the Moray Firth, the army base was designed to evade capture. Fort George is not a structure to be messed with because of the sophisticated defense standards, with heavy guns covering every angle. Today, the Fort would cost nearly £1 billion to build and equip. The funny part is that the army base never fired a shot in anger and was virtually obsolete when it was completed.

Our Visit

Our visit to this impressive fortress was one of pure joy and excitement. It was a typically crisp and windy day in Scotland during May. The weather broke, and we had the welcome of the sun and even a lovely rainbow. The biggest treat: we were the only visitors on the entire Fort. Besides the few workers and military personnel there, we had it all to ourselves. Being void of people showed off the scale and beauty of this complex.

Where Is Fort George in Scotland?

Address: Near Ardersier, Inverness, IV2 7TDUK

Travel times from the major cities in Scotland are:

Inverness is 20 minutes away from Fort George

Edinburgh/Glasgow 3 hours and 15 minutes

Are you planning a trip to Scotland? Our Scotland Travel Guide offers great tips and essential information.

The Architecture of the Fort

Lieutenant-General William Skinner and the Adam family of architects built the Fort. Skinner was the designer and first governor of Fort George. Fort George took 22 years to complete; the Jacobite threat had subsided by then. But it has served the British Army for 250 years since.

The complex layout includes:

• ramparts
• massive bastions
• ditches
• firing steps

The boundary walls and what they housed

• accommodation for a governor, officers, an artillery detachment, and a 1,600-strong infantry garrison
• more than 80 guns
• a magazine for 2,672 gunpowder barrels
• ordnance and provision stores
• a brewhouse
• a chapel

Defenses were heavily concentrated on the landward side of the peninsula as Jacobite assault was expected from this direction. Furthermore, long stretches of the rampart and smaller bastions protected the remaining seaward sides with little worry of a ship making it to shore.

The History of the Fort George

The first Fort George was built in 1727 in Inverness; it was a large fortress capable of housing 400 troops on a hill beside the River Ness on the site of (and incorporating portions of) the medieval castle that had been rebuilt as a citadel by Oliver Cromwell but later abandoned. During the 1745 rising, the Jacobites seized the Fort, which they had blown up in 1746 to prevent the Hanoverians from using it as a base. 

The Threat of the Jacobites

Between 1745 and 1746, the Jacobite Rising was the last attempt by the Stuart dynasty to regain the thrones of Scotland, England, and Wales from the Hanoverians. Fort George was intended to be the main garrison fortress in the Scottish Highlands and was named after George II. It was one of the ruthless measures by the government to suppress Jacobite ambitions after the nearby Battle of Culloden. In 1747, Colonel William Skinner, the King’s Military Engineer for North Britain, signed a contract to rebuild the fortress at a new location.

When the Jacobite threat was over, the Fort became a recruiting base and training camp for the rapidly expanding British Army in the late 1700s. Many Highland lads passed through Fort George’s gates to fight for the British Empire across the globe.

Between 1881 and 1964, the Fort served as the depot of the Seaforth Highlanders.

Is Fort George Still in Use?

Fort George is currently the home of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS). During our visit, we saw some young soldiers out and about the base. No formations or exercises were going on during our time at the fort.

What to See and Do During Your Visit

What makes visiting Fort George exceptional is while it is still an active military base in use, the public is welcome.

• Walk around the main rampart, more than 1km in length, which encloses an area the size of five football pitches.
• Explore the Fort’s history in the Highlanders Museum, Scotland’s largest regimental museum outside Edinburgh (The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George has limited access at the moment due to essential maintenance work.)
• Enter the grand magazine, designed to hold 2,672 gunpowder barrels and now home to a superb collection of weapons.
• Visit the historic barrack rooms to see a graphic recreation of soldiers’ living conditions in centuries gone by.
• Enjoy the peace of the garrison chapel, probably designed by Robert Adam.
• Don’t miss the dog cemetery – one of only two in Scotland – the resting place of regimental mascots and officers’ dogs.
• Look out from the ramparts for dolphins hunting and playing off the point
• Take their fun fact-finding quiz (also in Scots.)
• You can tour the Fort with our audio guide using your mobile phone with internet access—it’s included in the ticket price.
• The view across the Moray Firth from the cannon platform is stunning. Look for the resident dolphins, and if you have binoculars, bring them along.

While in the Area

• Cawdor Castle. is a 17-minute drive away. It is a 14th-century castle with expansive grounds that is supposedly the inspiration for the story of Macbeth. Visitors can enjoy a nine-hole golf course, a walled garden, and ‘the big wood’ – a remnant of an ancient Caledonian forest with several footpaths running through it.
• Inverness Castle. 26-minute drive. A red sandstone castle that overlooks the River Ness in the city center. The castle is not open to the public, but you can visit the grounds for photo opportunities of Inverness from the elevated hilltop position.
• Clava Cairns. 22-minute drive. It is one of the oldest historic sites in Britain. Clava Cairns is a prehistoric burial cairn around 4,000 years old. There are several standing stones and the remains of an ancient cemetery.
• Nairn Beach. 19-minute drive. A vast golden sand beach that is several miles in length. Nairn Beach opens up to a large estuary to the west, a haven for waterfowl. The area towards Nairn offers easy access to cafés and public toilets.
• Culloden Battlefield. is a 23-minute drive away. It was the site of the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil when British government soldiers brought the Jacobite uprising to a bloody finale. The centerpiece is a large memorial and markers for each clan that died in the battle. The site also has a visitor center with a museum, a café, and a gift shop.

Things to Do In This Region of Scotland

• Inverness is a city on Scotland’s northeast coast, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It’s the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. Its Old Town features the 19th-century Inverness Cathedral, the mostly 18th-century Old High Church, and an indoor Victorian Market selling food, clothing, and crafts. The Contemporary Inverness Museum and Art Gallery trace local and Highland history. It is a 20-minute drive to the city center.

• Explore the famous Loch in an attempt to find the Loch Ness Monster. We don’t know if you will find it, but we know you will find endless natural beauty to photograph and stunning castles as the beautiful Urquhart Castle ruins. It’s a 30-minute drive to the northern end.

• Closer to the East is a substantial distillery concentration. There is no better way to experience something authentically Scottish than to taste whisky. We enjoyed Glen Moray Distillery during our visit.

• The Highlands encompass everything from Inverness to the West. Because of this, they are the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. These intense, rugged, and mountainous landscapes will have you exploring for days.

Check out our post on one of our favorite places in Scotland: Edinburgh Castle.

When To Visit Fort George

Like most of Scotland, it has a temperate maritime climate with cold and humid winters and mild summers. The annual average temperature is 48°F (9°C), and it rains throughout the year. In Scotland, you always need to plan for chilly temperatures and rain. Bring an umbrella or rain jacket. The area can also get quite windy. Snow is uncommon but possible.

Scotland doesn’t have extremes, so plan accordingly, and no time of year should be a deterrent.

Opening Hours and Entry Costs

1 April to 30 September

Daily 9:30 to 5:30 (Last entry 4:30)

1 October to 31 March

Daily, 10:00 to 4:00 (Last entry 3:00)

Average Length of Visit: 1.5 – 2 hours

All visitors must have a ticket 

Admission

Adult: (aged 16-64) £10.00
Concession (aged 65+) £8.00
Child (aged 7-15) £6.00
Children must be accompanied by an adult aged 16+

Child Under 7 (aged 0-6) £0.00

Entry is free, but a ticket is required. Please add any tickets for Children Under 7 to your booking.

Children must be accompanied by an adult aged 16

Family Ticket Packages are available

To book your tickets online, click here

TIP

Get the HES Explorer Pass

It’s a wee bit expensive if you’re not a Historic Environment Scotland member, but you can save money by joining before you visit. HES membership allows unlimited free entry to all its sites across Scotland, and there are a ton! To learn more about purchasing a HES Explorer pass, click here.

Facilities

Visitors with disabilities are treated equally with all other visitors, and entry is charged at the appropriate admission category rate—adult/Concession/Child. Proof of disability is not required.

For disabled visitors who need help visiting the sites, they offer free entry for accompanying carers. These can be added when making your booking. Please note this is limited to two carers per transaction.

Toilets, mobility scooters, a restaurant/cafe, a shop, and water bottle refills are available on-site.

Ear Defenders: This site has a limited number of adult and children’s ear defenders. Please ask a member of staff if you want to borrow one.

Dogs: Assistance dogs are permitted at all our sites and within roofed areas.  

Visitors’ dogs are allowed at Fort George but not in roofed areas. Dogs must be kept on a lead and not left unattended at any time, and owners must pick up after their dogs.

Where to Stay

The largest city nearest to Fort George is Inverness, and it would be ideal to visit and stay in the whole area. This part of Scotland deserves at least one night. We spent one night in Inverness during our travels and wished we had allowed for more.

It is important to price out accommodations on various sites. Expedia is a US-based company, whereas Booking.com is Europe-based. Not all properties appear on both, so it is ideal to check both out. Our personal first choice is Booking.com. If the establishment has a website, check the price there as well. Click the link below to check out hotels and vacation homes in the area. It may be just the motivation you need to start planning that next grand adventure.

Final Thoughts

If you are in Scotland, especially northern Scotland, Fort George is one of those can’t-miss places. It is historical, massive, and beautiful. The setting alone is worth a visit. You can learn its history or just take a relaxing walk around the grounds. This place has a little something for everyone; nature, history, military, architecture, and more. We have no doubt when visiting one of the largest and most historic Forts in all of Europe; you will be impressed.

You may even be as lucky as we were to catch a rainbow.

© 2025 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

Check out the official website for Fort George for more information.

Fort George Photo Gallery

Our Top Recommended Travel Products

Travel Insurance

Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!

We strongly advocate for comprehensive travel insurance, not only for minor inconveniences but also for major, unexpected events like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to resource is Squaremouth.com. which offers a user-friendly platform that connects you with top-rated, reputable insurance carriers. Plus, they’ll mediate on your behalf if you run into any issues.

To empower you as a consumer, we recommend you read our blog post on why travel insurance is essential and how to secure the best coverage from leading companies at an affordable price.

buy now

MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

Medjet is a leading provider of global air medical transport. Unlike traditional travel insurance, which typically covers medical evacuation to the nearest facility, Medjet goes further by ensuring you’re transported back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you’re stable enough to fly. Medjet offers membership plans that focus on medical transport, while Medjet Horizon provides expanded coverage for broader protection. Individual trip policies start at just $99, and annual policies are available for around $300. Most policies have an age limit of 74.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Buy now

Accommodations and Airfare

Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to unforgettable experiences, a wide range of transportation options, and incredible places to stay—from homes to hotels and beyond. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces, it supports well-known brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. For its convenience, variety, and reliability, it’s our preferred booking platform.

Book now

Transportation

Expedia and VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a U.S.-based company with a mission to make global travel accessible to everyone, everywhere. At Wanderers Compass, we embrace independent travel, and platforms like Expedia are essential to making that a reality. Expedia allows you to book every aspect of your trip—from flights and accommodations to rental cars, cruises, and activities—making it a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.

Book now

Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service

Daytrip provides an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers worldwide, and we absolutely love their service. It’s a cost-effective alternative to renting a car, providing comfortable, stress-free travel with the bonus of scenic stops along the way. For example, we used Daytrip for travel between Budapest and Vienna, enjoying some fantastic detours to local attractions. With professional drivers and customizable routes, Daytrip ensures a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and unique sights along your journey.

To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Book now

Travel Experiences

Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences

Viator believes that travel is all about creating unforgettable memories. With over 300,000 experiences to choose from—ranging from simple tours to extreme adventures, plus a wide array of unique, niche activities—it’s never been easier to make lasting memories. We frequently use Viator during our travels and especially appreciate their flexible cancellation policy, which adds peace of mind to every booking.

Explore now

Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas

GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.

GigSky eSIM effortlessly connects travelers around the globe, eliminating the need to swap physical SIM cards or deal with surprise roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making your travel experience more convenient than ever. Plus, they offer a fantastic deal: a free 100 MB data plan with no credit card required. They are so confident that you will love their service!

Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10.

To learn more about how GigSky works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

SHOP NOW

Shopping

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides that we have vetted ourselves

Amazon is one of the world’s most comprehensive online shopping platforms, offering lower prices, a wide selection, and fast delivery through teams worldwide.

Shop now

This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!