A grave marker at Culloden Battlefield that is popular among Outlander fans has been sealed off to visitors.
The Clan Fraser stone is currently off-limits following damage caused as a result of heavy foot traffic. The grave markers around the site commemorate the Jacobite soldiers who died at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
The site has become a favoured spot among fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books and its television adaptation. Main character Jamie Fraser fought at the battle, and so many fans have been keen to see it for themselves. Many Outlander-themed tours include a stop at the Clan Fraser stone, with fans commonly laying flowers at the grave marker and taking selfies in front of it.
Now, the National Trust Scotland (NTS), which owns part of the historic battlefield, has taken action to stop the deterioration of the site. The area has now been cordoned off to allow the ground to firm up and grass to re-grow.
The conservation charity also stressed that visitors should give the area "space", and that the burial site should be "respected".
While the NTS did not directly place blame for the damage around the Clan Fraser stone on Outlander fans, it stated that the damage was worse than at other graves on the battlefield.
A spokesman commented: “Wear and tear around the Fraser Stone is more extensive than in other parts of the graves area at Culloden Battlefield. We are unable to say that this is explicitly due to Outlander fans or not.
"Having said that, the damage to the ground in this area is due to a high traffic of visitors wanting their pictures taken with the stone for their own reasons. While we want to allow everyone to come and remember the Battle of Culloden in their own way, we ask that if visitors notice that areas are becoming deteriorated that they give the area space.
"It is important that we remind all visitors to Culloden that this area of the battlefield is where over 1,500 people lost their lives in 1746 and are buried in mass graves directly beside most of the stone markers. We ask all visitors to Culloden Battlefield to show the graves area the respect given to any other burial site and we are doing our best as its guardian to conserve it."
The NTS took to social media to announce that the site would be cordoned off. Many people were quick to share their views on the news in the comment section.
One said: "I know that it's a minority of people but I just wish they would remember that Outlander is fiction. The Frasers featured there NEVER EXISTED! Please stop damaging the graves!"
Another added: "Visiting film and historical sites featured in Outlander was the main agenda of my trip to Scotland, and I was shocked to see the state of that area. He wasn't even a real person!
"He was based off a Doctor Who character for crying out loud. That's a real marker, for a real clan, of real people, who died in a real battle."
Issues at the Clan Fraser grave marker have been reported since at least 2018 and visitor numbers to Culloden starting to bounce back following the pandemic.
An additional path to the Clan Fraser stone has been built to help manage visitor numbers to the scheduled monument.
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