Inverness
Why we love Inverness
Do you believe in legends? Packed with mystery, history, culture and adventure, Inverness will convert you. Known as the ‘Capital of the Highlands’, Inverness is Britain’s most northerly city – a melting pot of history, heritage and culture. Home to world-class museums, dining experiences, adventure trails, and historic sites, there’s plenty to keep you busy in and around the city.
Pop into a cosy pub and meet the locals or get hands on with a distillery tour, sampling more of the region’s flavours. Head to the hills for nature and adventure sports, or try a spot of monster hunting in the murky waters of Loch Ness. Will you capture the next iconic ‘Nessie’ photo? A great base for exploring the Highlands, the North Coast 500 touring route starts and ends here, too. With numerous filming locations as seen on Outlander, Inverness is your gateway to all that northern Scotland has to offer.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Get behind the history and heritage of the Highlands at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, with historic artefacts, exhibitions and galleries showcasing local modern art. Keep a look out for rotating exhibitions and the Community Gallery, plus activities for all ages including art workshops and talks.
Culloden Battlefield
A short drive out of the city centre, visit the Culloden Battlefield, where the 1745 Jacobite Rising took place and met a tragic end. A powerful reminder of history, see actual artefacts and discover what it was like to be part of the battles in the immersive cinema at the interactive visitor centre.
The Loch Ness Centre
Journey back 500 million years and uncover the history of this mystical lake on the one-hour Loch Ness Centre tour, located in the exact hotel where the first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster (‘Nessie’) was reported. Discover the origins of the legendary monster and hear testimonies from those who have first-hand accounts of close encounters. Visitors can also explore the murky depths of Loch Ness on a boat tour.
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Discover Inverness Castle overlooking the River Ness, with an immersive experience set to reopen at the site in summer 2025 (currently closed).
Go monster hunting on a boat trip of Loch Ness and learn more about the history and folklore surrounding the area.
Visit Culloden Battlefield and step into history as its immersive visitor centre details how the last pitched battle on British soil changing life in the Highlands and brutally ended the Jacobite Rising in 1746.
Explore the mystery of Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial site with well-preserved standing stones and graves, which has also starred in Outlander.
Fun Fact
Fun Fact
Inverness is often considered the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands and is Britain’s northernmost city, a centre for Gaelic heritage and traditional music for centuries.
Did you know?
Did you know?
- As the ‘gateway to the Highlands’, Inverness is a starting point for the North Coast 500, a 516-mile (830km) scenic driving route around the north coast of Scotland.
- The River Ness flows through the city, with walking routes linking key landmarks such as Inverness Cathedral and the Ness Islands.
- The region around Inverness is home to several whisky distilleries, such as Glen Ord Distillery in Muir of Ord, where tours and tastings showcase the craftsmanship behind Scotland’s national drink.
- Eden Court is the largest arts venue in the Scottish Highlands, hosting a diverse programme of theatre, film, music and dance, from traditional Scottish productions to contemporary international shows.
- Inverness and its surroundings have featured in literature and film, from Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the modern Outlander series.
Things to do in Inverness
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Featured things to do
Make waves at Loch Ness
Get up-close to this famous Loch and glide across its murky waters as you kayak Loch Ness. Expert guides will get you clued up on local history and legend, and visit the Loch Ness Lighthouse, too.
Have a wheely good time
Explore the Loch Ness 360° Trail by bicycle or foot to soak up the atmosphere of this mystical spot. Keep an eye out for ‘Nessie’!
Explore 1,000 years of drama
Pay a visit to the atmospheric Urquhart Castle, a 45-minute drive out of Inverness city centre, for stories of battles, acts of chivalry and struggles for power.
Savour Scotland’s spirit
What goes into your glass of whisky? Find out on a distillery tour at Glen Ord, where you’ll get to lift the curtain on the art of whisky production before sampling a few drams for yourself. Cheers to that!
Places to stay in Inverness
Inverness city centre
With waterfront bars, museums and historical landmarks all within reach, choose from hotels, guesthouses and local bed and breakfasts. EmbraceScotland also has a range of self-catering options to pick from.
Loch Ness
From log cabins with hot tubs to self-catering options, camping, glamping and Scottish hospitality at a bed and breakfast, enjoy Highland views over breakfast.
A boat stay
For something a little more unusual, how about spending the night on the water in boat accommodation? Bob along on Loch Ness or enjoy the calm of the Caledonian Canal.
Explore nearby
Getting to Inverness
Edinburgh Airport, Scotland’s largest airport, is located 111 miles (179 km) from Inverness. If you’re arriving into Edinburgh, a Citylink bus can get you to Inverness in around four hours.
Inverness Airport is a short 10-minute journey from the city centre. The airport receives international flights from the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, and is directly connected to five major international airports in Britain: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester and Bristol.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) operates trains from major train stations in London direct to Inverness. Running on the East Coast Mainline, the route passes other major cities including York and Newcastle. Visitors can also travel via ScotRail throughout Scotland, with a journey from Edinburgh to Inverness taking around four hours. For a relaxed journey, take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Inverness, which takes 11-and-a-half hours.
Coaches to Inverness are also a cost-effective way to travel. Stagecoach, Megabus and National Express operate across the UK to Inverness, while Citylink provides connections to other Scottish cities, such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Getting around
By foot
Once on the ground Inverness is a great city to explore by foot. Discover hidden walking gems in Inverness and Loch Ness.
By bike
Inverness and Loch Ness were made to be explored by bike. Check out this handy Inverness active travel map and hire a bike from Ticket To Ride or the Hi-Bike service.
By bus and train
Inverness, Loch Ness and the surrounding Highlands are accessible by bus and train. To plan your journey, see the Traveline Scotland Journey Planner.
Want to know more?
Want to know more?
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