Inverness Best Bed and Breakfasts

Things To See And Do In And Around Inverness

Attractions & Historic Sites

Jacobite Cruises - Jacobite has been sailing Loch Ness for over 30 years with a five-star fleet, a passionate crew and a choice of exciting cruise and tour options. Sailing to the heart of the mystery and legend of loch Ness is more unforgettable than ever. So, whether you want to go on a cruise, explore Urquhart Castle or visit the fascinating Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, Jacobite has the experience, the enthusiasm, and the fleet to provide ultimate, magical, Loch Ness experience!

River Ness - This wide peaceful river flowing through the city of Inverness is great for fishing salmon.

Glen Affric -  West of Loch Ness about 40 minutes from Inverness by car Glen Affric offers spectacular scenery and a variety of walking routes ranging from half a mile to 16 miles and from easy to demanding.  The lochs, waterfalls, mountains and woodland combine to create an area of great beauty and tranquility.

Culloden Battlefield - This battlefield marks the site of the historic 1746 battle between the Duke of Cumberland and Prince Charles.

Happy Tours - On foot tours of the City with Cameron who is both entertaining and informative.

Floral Hall - An indoor botanical garden featuring ponds and waterfalls.

Caledonian Canal - Scenic waterway surrounded by majestic mountains and meadows.

Aigas Field Centre - The Internationally acclaimed, award-winning Field Centre for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Inverness Museum & Art Gallery - This museum combines fine art with historical and natural artifacts to give visitors a more complete picture of Inverness's complex history.

Inverness Historic Trail - taking in the Victorian Gothic Town House, Dunbars Hospital (built in 1668 as a hospital for the poor) the Old High Church (the original church was built in the 12th century), Balnain House (a Georgian town house dating from 1726 and used as a hospital for Hanoverian soldiers after the Battle of Culloden), Tollbooth Steeple (erected in 1791 and rising to 54 metres to where three bronze bellshang in the spire) and several other buildings of note. 

Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre - scene of the last pitched battle on British soil, in 1746, when government troops, led by the Duke of Cumberland, defeated the Jacobites. 

Balnuaran of Clava (Clava Cairns) - the site of an exceptionally well preserved group of prehistoric burial cairns, built about 4,000 years ago. 

Inverness Castle - there has been a castle on this site since the 12th century.  The current castle dates from 1834 and serves as the Sheriff Court House. 

Cawdor Castle  - a superb fairy tale castle, dating from the 14th century. 

Brodie Castle - set in peaceful parkland, this fine 16th century tower house is packed full of fine art and antiques. 

Urquhart Castle - magnificently situated, on the banks of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state.

Nigg Old Church - a fine example of a Scottish parish church and - since it houses a magnificent Pictish stone of the late eighth century, carved with Pictish symbols and Christian imagery - it is likely that it stands on what has been a place of Christian worship for at least 1200 years.

Hugh Miller’s Cottage and Museum - The museum comprises an elegant three-storey Georgian villa housing six rooms of exhibits covering the 19th century naturalist and geologist’s life and work, and the thatched 18th century cottage next door where he was born

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Groam House Museum  - is an outstanding Pictish Centre for Ross and Cromarty. The unique display is focussed on 15 carved Pictish stones. All the stones originated in Rosemarkie, some dating back to the 8th century AD, when it was an important centre of early Christianity

Fort George & The Queen's Own Highlanders Regimental Museum - The Museum comprises a unique collection of medals, uniforms and accoutrements, weapons, paintings and prints, colours and pipe banners, mess plate, ceramics, and other artefacts covering the history of the regiment back to 1778. The Museum also has a comprehensive library and archive collection to which researchers are welcome, and this includes original sources and published material on Fort George.

Walking In & Around Inverness

Inverness-shire offers many fine walks, of varying lengths, through beautiful countryside.

Caledonian Canal - at the heart of the Great Glen Way, and bisecting Scotland from the west coast to the east coast, is the Caledonian Canal.  A pleasant 9 mile (round trip) walk in Inverness can be done from the coastal Muirton Basin and along the Canal towpath to the northern most tip of Loch Ness at Dochgarroch. 

Great Glen Way - 73 miles of spectacular walking country spanning the distance between Inverness and Fort William. 

Glen Affric - offers some of the most breath-taking scenery in the Highlands, with lochs, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, ancient woodlands and abundant wildlife all making this area a very special place.   There are several well marked walking trails, ranging in length from half a mile to 16 miles and from easy to demanding.

Culbin Forest - this forest on the Morayshire Coast has an ever changing landscape of shifting sands, mudflats, and forest topped dunes.

Rogie Falls - in the Torrachilty Forest.  A short walk (about 1.5 miles and just over 1 hour) to some impressive waterfalls and suspension footbridge (a good vantage point for seeing salmon leap in the autumn).

Abriachan Forest - the Abriachan Forest Trust has opened a number of pathways in the woodland and open hillside overlooking Loch Ness. 

Cairngorms National Park - has numerous walks, taking in forests, loch side paths and mountains, and include marked trails on the Revack Estate.

Rothiemurchus Estate - offers guided gorge walking. 

Shopping in Inverness

Inverness Victorian Market in the Old Town has a wide range of shops, including needlecraft supplies, handmade chocolates, a joke shop, hobby and craft supplies, gift shop, jewellers, tartans, and health shop.

James Pringle Weavers - Part factory tour, part outlet: find out how some of Scotland's finest woollen wares are made, then buy what you like.

Castle Gallery (on Castle Street) for contemporary fine and applied art.

Jennifer Welch Gallery (on Kenneth Street) for work by contemporary Scottish artists.

Leakey’s Bookshop in Church Street is the largest antiquarian book shop in Scotland, with a roaring log fire and café.

Judith Glue (located on Bridge Street) for fine knitwear, jewellery, accessories and handcrafts.

Hazel Passmore (25 Inglis Street) for beautifully designed contemporary jewellery.

Helen Bateman (located in McEwans of Perth on Church Street) for fabulous shoes and accessories.

Riverside Gallery (on Bank Street) for original oil paintings and watercolours.

J Graham & Co (on Castle Street) specialists in shooting and fishing equipment.

Duncan Chisholm and Sons (on Castle Street) for fine kilts.

Eastgate Centre has over 60 high street stores, including Debenhams, Marks & Spencers, Zara, H&M, Monsoon, Boots, Waterstones, Next, HMV, Game, La Senza, Phase Eight, and East.

Highland House of Fraser on Huntly Street for kilts and Highland dress.

Hector Russell on Bridge Street for Scottish gifts and clothing.