10 of the Best Things to do in Inverness
Do you have one or two days to explore Inverness? Are you wondering what the 10 best things to do in Inverness are? Wonderful, we have done all the hard work for you to ensure you have an amazing time in this marvellous small city. In fact two or three days won’t be enough if you want to enjoy all the magic which Inverness has to offer.
1. Explore the Old Town and walk along Ness Islands
Inverness city is known as the gateway to the highlands. It is full of history from Jacobites to Monsters and links to Outlander and the Frasers. Climb up the small castle hill in the centre of town to get a great view of the cathedral and river Ness. Walk around the old town admiring the architecture of the Inverness Town House, Inverness Castle, Abertarff House, Inverness Old High Church and much more. Perhaps you would like to learn more history about Inverness? We can highly recommend a tour with Cath, (Inverness Walking Tours).
After a day of exploring the town we are sure you will enjoy exploring Inverness Victorian Market located in the heart of the city. This is a great place to eat and buy some souvenirs to your visit of this amazing mini city.
If you want a lovely romantic stroll in the evening, why not walk along Ness Islands. These are natural islands in the middle of the River Ness, connecting the two banks of the city. Victorian footbridges span the river bank out onto the islands. The walk ways are sprinkled with sculptures and mature trees. Why not sit for a while on one of the many benches and watch fisherman trying their luck in the river?
2. Visit Loch Ness and Kayak with Highland Experiences (Kayak Loch Ness) and monster Hunt
Kayaking on Loch Ness with Kayak Loch Ness (Highland Experiences) is one of the most unique ways to view the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness. Many people drive along the banks of Loch Ness but nothing compares to paddling on the tranquil waters of the canal as we explore the waterway and head out to Loch End, where the largest body of water in the whole of the UK can be found, Loch Ness. We paddle around old barges ( we like to call them pirate ships), keeping our eye out for salmon, otter, king fisher, heron and osprey.
As they guide you on this beginners kayaking journey you will learn a little of the history of the area, about the first sightings of Nessie our Loch Ness Monster and the inshore lighthouse on Loch Ness.
Highland Experiences, Kayak Loch Ness, are also delighted if Wee Nessie decides to pop up and say “Failte!” (welcome) as we paddle along on the water, who knew it would be so easy to spot such a rare monster in Scotland?
3. Visit Inverness Botanic Gardens
Inverness Botanic Gardens, also known as the Floral Halls are open 7 days a week and are free! These beautiful gardens include a Tropical House, Cactus House, Growing Projects and Cafe Botanics (amazing cakes, coffee, sandwiches and more!). Located less than a 3o minute walk from the city centre (1.5km), the Botanic Gardens offers solitude, beauty and a great place to stroll or sit and reflect. There is free parking nearby if you are travelling by car and offers disabled access to most areas.
Opened in 1993 Inverness Botanic Gardens occupies the original walled garden of 18th century Bught House (the area they are located in is near Bught Park a popular area for sports). The original house was removed in the 60s to make way for the nearby Inverness Ice Rink and the walled garden offered the perfect place to shelter the amazing collection of plants you will see today.
4. Take in a Show at Eden Court
Located on the banks of the River Ness, Eden Court is a beautiful building offering which incorporates the historic Bishop’s Palace (with beautiful stained glass windows). The building was first opened in 1976 and offers theatre productions, cinema, art, dance studios and much more. The theatre’s inhouse restaurant and bar facilities means you don’t have to go far for your pre-show drinks and dinner.
These state of the art facilities are a great draw for popular musicals, opera, ballet, adventure talks and much more. Not matter what time of year you are visiting Inverness, Eden Court will have something to offer you.
5. Explore the beauty of Inverness Cathedral
Inverness Cathedral is the Mother Church for the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness, of the Scottish Episcopal Church. At over 150 years old the Cathedral is still very much an active place of worship. Whenever you visit be sure to be respectful of those visiting for worship. Or better still, why not join the congreation for Morning Prayer, Eurcharist of Even’ Prayer?
The Cathedral is free to visit but of course maintaining a free venue of this size, they would welcome donations. The Cathedral also offers well loved a cafe and shop where you can sit and reflect on the beauty of the building you have just visited.
Are you wondering why the Cathedral only has towers and not spires? Let us tell you a wee secret! Unfortunately they ran out of money!
6. Discover the History of Inverness at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Another donations only venue, essentially free, in the heart of Inverness. This beautiful building is the home of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery includes fascinating artefacts and collections about Highland heritage and life. The museum includes temporary exhibitions too, so there is always something new to see, with work from local artists and crafters and a onsite cafe and gift shop.
To find out what special events Inverness Museum and Art Gallery have to offer when you visit, follow this link for What’s On and start getting excited now.
7. Keep your eyes peeled for Dolphin while visiting Fort George
Fort George is only a short bus ride outside of Inverness and well worth the visit. Travel by busy, bike, foot or car to Fort George, near Ardersier on the Moray Coast. Fort George was built after the Battle of Culloden (1746) in an attempt to help the hanovarians keep the rebellious Jacobite followers suppressed. The fort itself took 22 years to build and ironically by the time it was completed the threat of the Jacobites was waining.
The Fort is still an active barracks at present, so don’t be surprised to see members of the British Armed forces arriving and departing.
This fascinating building is huge, with the main rampart being over 1kilometre in length, with lots of buildings, nooks and crannies to visit. We especially enjoyed seeing the bayonett marks from the lonely guards at the entrance way, the pet cemetry (the final resting place of the regimental mascots and officers dogs) and the Highlanders Museum.
Oh and did we mention Dolphins? The ramparts of Fort George offer stunning views of the Moray Firth and as the tide rushes up the Firth at certain times of the day, this is when the salmon are heading up river. The well known bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth are not far behind their food and you may be lucky enough to see the Dolphins as they speed up the Firth chasing their supper.
8. Visit a Whisky Distillery on the banks of River Ness
What more can be located on the banks of the River Ness? Well a distillery of course!
Uile Bheist might not be the easiest to pronouse (it is Gaelic for ‘monster’) but it is an easy distillery to visit to get your first taste of Scotland’s Water of Life, Whisky. This brewstillery (beer and whisky) is a new low carbon distillery and visitor experience dedicated to Scottish whisky, producing single malt scotch whisky. The distillery offers a range of tours and experiences from their discovery tour, boiler marker and tasting tour, to chocolate and cheese tour.
We are sure that Uile Bheist will have something to offer you know matter what your tastes are.
9. Walk along the Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a man made canal which connects the west of Scotland to the east. Offering over 60 miles of water, cutting through the geological fault line of Scotland’s Great Glen. The Caledonian Canal is beautiful place to walk, cycle or indeed kayak along if you don’t have your own pleasure boat.
Why not walk along the canal from your base in Inverness and if you are lucky enough you will see the canal locks in action, as the Lock Master opens and closes the locks allowing the passage of the pleasure boats which use the Caledonian Canal to travel from one side of Scotland to the other.
If you don’t have your own kayak, remember we, at Highland Experiences, Kayak Loch Ness can offer you amazing guided beginners trips along the Caledonian Canal and onto Loch Ness.
Keep your eyes peeled for heron, kingfisher, otter and osprey.
10. Step back in time and explore Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness
Located on the banks of Loch Ness, you may be forgiven for thinking you have seen Urquhart Castle before. Don’t worry you probably have seen the castle before as it has featured in many of movie about Nessie, The Loch Ness Monster.
Urquhart Castle has been a sight of conflict for over 500 years and the ownership of the castle has seen just as much conflict. It has changed hands, been attacked, raided and burned to the ground yet today all is tranquil and a fantastic place to visit and soak up the atmosphere of our most famous of Scottish Lochs.
The castle offers audio guides using your own mobile phone (included in your ticket price), a cafe, shop and limited parking.