Battle that bequeathed us the soldier’s leap

During the battle the Catholic Highland clans supporting King James VII and II clashed with Scottish government troops who supported Queen Mary and King William.

From a position of strength on a hill, the Jacobite forces, led by Viscount Dundee (Bonnie Dundee), smashed through the government’s lines.

Within minutes the battle had become a rout, with government troops fleeing south, having lost 2,000 men on the battlefield compared to 800 for the Jacobites, including Bonnie Dundee.

The flight gave rise to one of the battle’s most famous tales – that of the soldier’s leap, where one government soldier is reputed to have made a spectacular jump to safety across the River Garry.

He is said to have cleared the gorge at a point where it is 18ft wide.

Bonnie Dundee.