Inverness

Inverness is a popular tourist location, largely due to the famous Loch Ness monster that generations of visitors have come searching for. Consequently, you’ll find that the city has everything a tourist could wish for, including great cafés and restaurants, and lots of options for shopping.

The city is located right in the heart of the Highlands, and so is a great place to base yourself if you’re planning to explore this wider region. People come to Inverness to experience the magnificent Highlands scenery and wildlife, and to explore historical sites. Most famously, the site where the Battle of Culloden took place is located near the city.

Why Visit Inverness?

Although Nessie attracts many to the area, Inverness has some other interesting animals for you to spot as well. Birdspotters will enjoy ‘Longman Bird Hide’, where you can see teal, redshanks, curlews, and various different species of gulls. Note that for those not in the know, it can be hard to tell the difference between a rare gull species and your average seagull. 

‘Merkinch Local Nature Reserve’ is also home to some interesting birds, but its main attraction is the bottlenose dolphin. You might also be able to spot some seals and possibly bats at ‘Ness River Islands’. You can sample a wide variety of cuisines in Inverness.

There are some fantastic Michelin star restaurants serving international dishes. You can also find great places to relax at night, from trendy pubs to more traditional pubs where you sometimes see bands playing Scottish music.

Inverness is one of the best places to learn about Scottish history, particularly the history of the Jacobite rebellions. It’s well worth visiting Culloden, the site of the famous battle where the ’45 rebellion was finally put down.

Continuing the Jacobite theme, Fort George is very interesting for those who want to learn about this period of history. There are also lots of castles in the area, including Urquhart Castle. It’s difficult to think of anything more Scottish than a ruined castle overlooking Loch Ness.

Explore Inverness