Capital of the beautiful Highlands of Scotland, Inverness is a growing city. Situated on the banks of the river Ness and with a history going back hundreds of years, it is an excellent centre for exploring the region.
The Victorian castle stands proud on its hill above the river, dominating the city. Up river are the Ness islands connected by Victorian footbridges and a peaceful spot for a walk.
The oldest building in Inverness is Abertarff House on Church Street which contrasts with the new shopping malls of the Eastgate and Eastgate 2 centres.
There are numerous restaurants offering a wide choice of eating experiences and many clubs and bars for those interested in nightlife.
Only seven miles away is Loch Ness, famous for its monster, where visitors can ramble over the ruins of Urquhart Castle before heading west to explore the beautiful glens of Affric and Cannich.
Castles abound in this area and probably the most visited are Cawdor Castle, Brodie Castle and Dunrobin Castle. Each has its own character.
For the wildlife enthusiast, there are the dolphins of the Moray Firth, abundant birdlife to spot including red kites, osprey and golden eagles and of course, the majestic red deer roaming the moors and glens.
Scotland's national drink is made in numerous distilleries, of which there are several in the Inverness area which welcome visitors: Glen Ord; Tomatin and Glenmorangie, to name a few.
Culloden Battlefield, with its new Visitor Centre, is an evocative and beautiful site to visit and much older are the nearby prehistoric Clava Cairns, just a few miles from Inverness.
Using Inverness as a base, day trips can be made to the west coast, the Cairngorms National Park or to Inverewe Gardens on the north-west coast. There are so many wonderful places to explore that you will run out of time long before you run out of ideas!
Travelling by car is most versatile but Inverness is easy to reach by train, bus services or by air. The nearest airport is Inverness Dalcross just 7 miles from the city.
Courtesy of Clach Mhuilinn a 5 Star B&B
Photo credit Jacqi Elmslie
