AN iconic cottage at Culloden Battlefield has been visibly damaged by Storm Amy, it has emerged.
The National Trust for Scotland is understood to be assessing the damage to Leanach Cottage, the thatched stone croft house located on the battlefield near Inverness.
The building sustained visible damage as high winds and heavy rain swept across the Highlands earlier this week.
Early images have shown that the cottage’s traditional thatched roof has been partially torn away, while there are understood to be concerns about structural damage to the stonework.
During the battle, a similar cottage stood on the same spot and served as a field hospital for Government soldiers.
After falling into disrepair, Leanach Cottage was rebuilt in the early 19th century. It became a symbol for the battlefield, and the people who lived there became the site’s first tour guides.
It remains an authentic representation of 18th-century Highland crofting life.
As a protected site, any repair or conservation work on Leanach Cottage will require expert oversight to ensure historical accuracy and structural integrity.
Inverness South Councillor Duncan Macpherson told the Press and Journal: “It was the worst storm I’ve experienced in over 40 years of living in Inverness.
“The iconic landmark building, Leanach Cottage at Culloden Battlefield, the much photographed thatched cottage didn’t escape the wrath of the storm, resulting in the roof now requiring to be professionally repaired and rethatched.”
The National Trust for Scotland said the cottage will remain closed until surveyors have done a full assessment of the damage.
The spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, Leanach Cottage did sustain some damage in the storm over the weekend, mainly to the thatched roof.
"The cottage is closed until our surveyors have the chance to do a full assessment, and this will also tell us what repairs are required."
