Public art & sculpture · Scottish Highlands
Commando Memorial
In or near Spean Bridge.
Commando Memorial in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.

James Emmans — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Spean Bridge · 1.6 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Commando Memorial, the nearest railway station is Spean Bridge, located 1.6 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is PH34 4EG, and entry to the memorial is free.
About
Commando Memorial is a public sculpture in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom. Britain's public art ranges from Henry Moore reclining figures and Anthony Gormley installations to the Angel of the North and the surviving statues of empire.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2022
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. Situated around a mile from Spean Bridge, it overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle. Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, it is one of Scotland's best-known monuments, both as a war memorial and as a tourist attraction offering views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. Situated around a mile from Spean Bridge, it overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle. Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, it is one of Scotland's best-known monuments, both as a war memorial and as a tourist attraction offering views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
In 1949, the sculptor Scott Sutherland won a competition open to all Scottish sculptors for the commission, The Commando Memorial. Sutherland's design won first prize of £200. The base of the bronze statue is inscribed with the date of 1951. The sculpture was cast by H.H. Martyn & Co. The memorial was officially unveiled by the Queen Mother on 27 September 1952. The monument was first designated as a listed structure on 5 October 1971, and was upgraded to a Category A listing on 15 August 1996. On 18 November 1993 a further plaque was added to mark the Freedom of Lochaber being given to the Commando Association. On 27 March 2010 a 2 mi war memorial path was opened connecting the Commando…
Description
The monument consists of a cast bronze sculpture of three Commandos in characteristic dress complete with cap comforter, webbing and rifle, standing atop a stone plinth looking south towards Ben Nevis. The soldier at the front is thought to depict Commando Jack Lewington who frequently attended Remembrance Services at the monument during his lifetime. One of the other two soldiers is Frank Nicholls (rank unknown) the other is Regimental Sergeant Major Sidney Hewlett. Originally serving with the Welsh Guards, he was hand picked to be one of the founding NCOs of the commandos, and was also held in high regard and noted several times by Eisenhower. The entire monument is 17 ft tall. The…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 56.8979, -4.9440
- District
- Highland
- Postcode
- PH34 4EG
- Parliamentary constituency
- Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
- Nearest railway station
- Spean Bridge — 1.6 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q5152246 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Commando Memorial (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Memorial Garden
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km

Highbridge
Historic bridges · 0.8 km

Action at High Bridge Memorial
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Spean Bridge
Towns & cities · 1.6 km

Spean Bridge Mill
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Spean Bridge railway station
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Gairlochy railway station
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Tom an Teine
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Falls of Mucomir
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River Spean
Reservoirs & lochs · 2.7 km

Bridge of Mucomir
Historic bridges · 2.8 km

Mucomir Hydro-Electric Scheme
Reservoirs & lochs · 2.9 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Commando Memorial?
- Commando Memorial is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode PH34 4EG).
- What is Commando Memorial?
- Commando Memorial in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Commando Memorial?
- The nearest railway station is Spean Bridge, about 1.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode PH34 4EG.
- Is Commando Memorial a listed building?
- Commando Memorial is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is Commando Memorial free to visit?
- Yes, Commando Memorial is free to enter.
- How do I get to Commando Memorial?
- The nearest railway station is Spean Bridge, about 1.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode PH34 4EG.