The Scottish Highlands is, without doubt, the most stunningly beautiful part of the United Kingdom – and the city of Inverness lies at the very heart of it all.
Go monster hunting
One of the country’s top attractions is Loch Ness, which stretches south-west from Inverness, through the Great Glen and onto Fort Augustus. Britain’s deepest freshwater lake is scenic in its own right but people don’t just come here for the views, they also try to spot its famously reclusive resident – Nessie, better known as the Loch Ness Monster.
Learn all about Nessie at the exhibition centre in the village of Drumnadrochit, a half-hour drive from Inverness along the Lochside A82. Arguably the best way to see the loch is on a cruise from Inverness. They take you along the loch, passing the rugged landscapes that surround the water – a truly unforgettable ride.
Take a wildlife cruise
These are far from the only cruises in town, however. The Moray Firth stretches north-east from Inverness and is known worldwide for its large resident population of bottlenose dolphins.
Scores of them live in the estuary and you’ll have a very good chance of witnessing them in their natural habitat – especially between June and August – on a dolphin-spotting boat trip from Inverness. You can also see them from the shore, at Chanonry Point, on the southern side of the Black Isle.
Eat out in style
As a major tourist centre, Inverness boasts impressive culinary credentials. A perennial favourite, Rocpool Restaurant combines modern European style with the very best of seasonal local produce such as Highland beef, Speyside venison, Black Isle pork, or mussels from the Shetland Isles.
Halfway between Dalcross Airport and city centre is Culloden House Hotel, set among 40 acres of beautiful gardens. The excellent hotel restaurant serves the finest local meat, fish and seafood, and vegetables grown from their own garden.
Visit the site of Britain’s last battle
Only six kilometres from Inverness is Culloden Moor, scene of the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil. Here on 16 April 1746, the Jacobite Rising came to its tragic and blood-soaked end in one of the most harrowing episodes in British history, as supporters of the Stuart monarchy were massacred by the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops.
The windswept battlefield itself is very atmospheric but the interactive Culloden Visitor Centre tells the story in fascinating and moving detail.
Play the round of your life
The region around Inverness is golfing heaven. The city is within driving distance of three of the finest courses in the world. Near the airport, overlooking the Moray Firth, is Castle Stuart, a relative newcomer to Scotland’s golf scene but one that’s already being hailed as one of the best golfing experiences in the country.
The nearby seaside town of Nairn is home to a classic links course, with amazing views across the Moray Firth and a long, glorious sandy beach to appreciate as you wait to tee off. Farther afield is Royal Dornoch, one of Scotland’s greatest golf courses and one of the sport’s ultimate challenges. Devoted golfers from all around the world make the pilgrimage here to play on the world’s third oldest course.
Car rental in Inverness gives you the freedom to explore more of this stunning part of the Scottish Highlands.
