Places to Visit in the Inverness Area

There are many wonderful and intersting places to visit in the area including numerous historic castles such as the one at Brodie shown here. This is situated only a few miles east of the scenic seaside town of Nairn which in itself is only 16 miles from Inverness 

Cawdor Castle is well worth a visit being only 9 miles east of Inverness. The gardens alone are beautiful and we would highly recommend spending some time looking round nearby Cawdor village with its character tavern.

A visit to the Highlands would not be complete without seeing for yourself the spendor and magnitude of  Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. The new visitor centre offers a comprehensive and entertaining history of the castle. 

Cairns, Clans and Culloden: Experience five thousand years of Highland history in one day.

Start the day at the enigmatic Clava Cairns, close to Culloden Battlefield. The style of these stone burial cairns (dating back 5,000 years) is unique to the Inverness area, and recent research suggests that they may have been built by a prosperous early farming community for ceremonies linked to the winter solstice. Then visit Culloden Battlefield itself to learn the story of the last battle fought on British soil between the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the troops of the British Government. A visit to nearby Fort George - a spectacular fortress built to keep rebellious Highlanders in order - gives a fascinating glimpse into the military history of the Highlands from the 18th Century onwards.

A Monster Day Out: On the trail of the famous Loch Ness Monster.

Follow this itinerary and, although we can`t guarantee that you`ll see Nessie, we do promise you beautiful scenery, amazing monster stories and a memorable day out! From Inverness, follow the A82 to Drumnadrochit along the banks of Loch Ness. Stop off at the award-winning Loch Ness 2000 exhibition to find out more about this fascinating lake (and its famous monster) from pre-historic times onwards. Then on to Urquhart Castle for panoramic views over the loch, great photo-taking opportunities - and the story of one of the most important medieval castles in the Highlands. For a change from the car (and close-up views of the loch) why not take a cruise? Jacobite Cruises cruise from Inverness along the Caledonian Canal to Loch Ness and also offer a range of short cruises from the Clansman Harbour on Loch Ness-side or Urquhart

Nessie - and lots more besides: Discover the famous and not-so-famous attractions of the Loch Ness area.

From Inverness follow the A82 to Drumnadrochit along the banks of Loch Ness. Stop off at the award-winning Loch Ness 2000 exhibition to find out more about this fascinating lake (and its famous monster) from pre-historic times onwards. Then it`s on to Urquhart Castle for panoramic views over the loch, great photo-taking opportunities - and the story of one of the most important medieval castles in the Highlands.

From Urquhart Castle, follow the A82 to the attractive lochside village of Fort Augustus, where an impressive flight of canal locks allows boats to move between Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Return to Inverness by the B862 to Whitebridge and Foyers, and enjoy a scenic drive via Highland moors and lochs. Stop to see General Wade`s Bridge at Whitebridge (built as part of an 18th Century road network to allow government troops to move swiftly to control rebellious Highlanders) then enjoy the woodland walks and waterfall at Foyers, From Foyers, the road follows the banks of Loch Ness for superb views of the loch and Urquhart Castle. Great walks and panoramic views can also be enjoyed from the forest trail network at nearby Inverfarigaig. On the way back to Inverness, look out for the special rope bridges for red squirrels installed to help them cross the road safely!

Nairn in a nutshell: Enjoy a day of seaside fun and forest rambles.

Explore Nairn, with its old fishertown, museum, beautiful beaches, range of seafront leisure facilities and its championship golf courses. Then head for nearby Culbin Forest, with its network of waymarked trails. It`s an area of outstanding beauty for walkers and nature lovers with way-marked trails, with many species of native flora and fauna as well as large numbers of visiting and migratory birds.