Eilean Donan — Jacobite Powder Plot
Uncover the Jacobite conspiracy at Eilean Donan! Decode clues from the 1719 siege where 343 barrels of hidden powder doomed the fortress. Solve the mystery before the ghosts claim their revenge.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1719, as Jacobite rebels plotted to reclaim the throne from the British crown, Eilean Donan Castle became their secret stronghold at the confluence of three lochs
Eilean Donan — Jacobite Powder Plot
You are Lewis Petit, the military engineer tasked with surveying Eilean Donan Castle in 1714.
Your mission: assess the fortifications of this strategic Highland stronghold while thwarting
Dive into 18th-century Scotland and relive the audacious Jacobite conspiracy at the heart of the Highlands, a plot that set Eilean Donan ablaze.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins near the bridge connecting the village of Dornie to the tidal island of Eilean Donan, offering a direct view of the reconstructed castle. In 1719, this bridge was already a vital artery, allowing 46 Jacobite Spaniards to access the castle, where they stored 343 barrels of powder and 52 barrels of ammunition. As an engineer, you envision the logistical challenges of this clandestine operation, essential for the Jacobite cause. This site is the Most photographed castle in Scotland, a silent witness to the events of the Jacobite Rising 1719.
Crossing the bridge to Eilean Donan, you walk in the footsteps of the troops who defended the castle. This place was the scene of a dramatic siege in 1719. The castle, with its 14-foot-thick (approximately 4.3 m) walls, withstood three days of bombardment from the British Royal Navy frigates HMS Worcester, HMS Enterprise, and HMS Flamborough. Your engineer's eye scans the stones, imagining the power of the cannons and the resilience of the medieval masonry, before the final explosion of the powder stores.
Eilean Donan Castle itself, although rebuilt in 1911 by John MacRae-Gilstrap, retains the spirit of its 13th-century structure. In 1715, the village of Dornie, adjacent to the castle, served as a base for the gathering of the MacRaes before the Battle of Sheriffmuir, where 58 of them were killed. This fortress, located at the confluence of Lochs Duich, Long, and Alsh, symbolizes the tenacity of the Highland clans and their involvement in the Jacobite uprisings.
Loch Duich, converging with the other lochs at Eilean Donan, was the scene of the 1719 naval bombardment. Captain John Balchen of HMS Worcester led the assault against the Jacobite forces. This loch was a strategic site for Jacobite operations in 1715 and 1719, allowing for supply and retreat. Your mission pushes you to understand the geographical importance of this Highland region, where every body of water and every hill played a role in military strategy.
Your exploration of Eilean Donan, a key site of the Jacobite Rising 1719, helps you understand why this castle became a Highland castle ruins reconstruction 1911. As Lewis Petit, you documented these places before their destruction, and now you grasp their legacy. The real, uninvented history of resistance and reconstruction, rooted in the Scottish landscapes, offers you a unique perspective on the heritage of the Highlands and the challenges of historical preservation. This interactive visit to Eilean Donan, one of Scotland's most famous monuments, reveals the layers of time and the echoes of past battles.
The Route
8 sites to explore by car within the day
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Iconic Castle
Discover one of Scotland's most photographed castles.
Confluence of Lochs
Enjoy a spectacular natural setting among three sea lochs.
Spanish Connection
Explore the role of Spanish Jacobites in the castle's history.
One island, three lochs, a thousand stories to tell.
From Viking defense to cinematic legend.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Dive into 18th-century Scotland and relive the audacious Jacobite conspiracy at the heart of the Highlands, a plot that set Eilean Donan ablaze.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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