Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Inverness
Gateway to the Highlands: Culloden, Loch Ness and dolphins in the firth.
The small capital of the Highlands, on a fast salmon river where it meets the sea. The town itself is a calm day of riverside walks and islands; around it are Culloden's battlefield, 4,000-year-old cairns, a huge Georgian fort and the north end of Loch Ness. The Isle of Skye and boat trips on Loch Ness are long day trips by tour or bus (check). Bring repellent for the midges in summer.
Places to see
- Inverness CastleViewpoint · A red sandstone castle with turrets on a low hill above the river, a statue of Flora…Free
Ness IslandsWalk · A chain of small wooded islands in the middle of the river, reached by Victorian iron…Free
Culloden BattlefieldSight · A bleak, open moor with red and blue flags marking where the two armies stood, stones for…≈ A$33
When to go
- Jan7° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Feb7° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Mar9° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Apr11° / 4°Some rainBusy
- May14° / 6°Mostly dryBusy
- Jun17° / 9°Some rainBusy
- Jul19° / 11°Some rainVery busy
- Aug18° / 11°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Inverness town and the river. The castle, the riverside, the cathedral and the Ness Islands, all close to the station, with the hostels and guesthouses.
Flying in
Inverness (INV): Bus to the town centre and bus station, about 25 min, ≈ A$10. There's also a station at the airport with trains to Inverness (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Inverness; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$6. The town and the river walks are easy on foot. Local buses reach Culloden, Ardersier (Fort George), the Black Isle and along Loch Ness; country buses can be hours apart, so check times (check).
Tourist tax
No visitor levy in Inverness for now; the Highland Council has looked at one, so check before you go.
