Things to Do in Inverness

Standing proud against the fearsome storms that ravage the north coast of Lewis is the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. Designed by Scottish lighthouse engineer David Stevenson in the 1860s, the watchtower wasn't automated until 1998, making it one of the last in the British Isles to lose its lighthouse keeper. 

 

While you can no longer go inside, there are information plaques outside, and it's interesting just to see the lighthouse in all its exposed red-brick glory instead of the usual white. 

 

A birdwatcher's paradise, look out for buzzards, gulls and the occasional puffin soaring around the cliffs. Also, take a close look at the crags being buffeted by the North Sea, some of the oldest exposed rock in Europe, created up to 300 million years ago back in the Cambrian period. While you're here, follow the coast southwest past the lighthouse. You'll soon see a natural sea cave, known as the Eye of the Butt. 

Pleasure boats float along Caledonian Canal, a scenic 60-mile (97-kilometer) waterway that runs through Scotland's Great Glen, connecting Fort William in the southwest to Inverness in the northeast. The canal, which links Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Dochfour, and Loch Ness, is popular with walkers and cyclists, who follow towpath trails. 

Though the long-distance Great Glen Way, which follows the path of the canal, attracts hikers and cyclists to the water’s edge, most visitors to Scotland encounter the Caledonian Canal during sightseeing cruises. The most-visited part of the canal is the area around Loch Ness, a vast and scenic lake, and the supposed home of a mysterious aquatic monster. Organized tours departing from Edinburgh and Inverness often include a visit to the canal, as well as trips to other area Highland highlights, such as Urquhart Castle, the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, and Glencoe.

If you’re coming from Fort William, Neptune’s Staircase, 4 miles (6 kilometers) north of the city in the village of Banavie, are the nearest and most spectacular set of lochs on the canal. To get there, ride the Mallaig-bound train from Fort William to Banavie. If you’re based in Inverness, take a stroll along the Canal Road, which connects to the Great Glen Way. 

The best time to visit the canal is in summer. At this time, the weather is generally warmer, days are longer, and sightseers can take advantage of cruise vessels’ outdoor decks. The canal is perhaps at its most scenic during sunrise and sunset, when the golden glow reflects off the water’s surface. 

Built in the late 18th and early 19th century, the Caledonian Canal was meant to serve as a safe route for commercial freight who wanted to avoid the hazardous west coast of Scotland. Unfortunately, by the time it actually opened in 1822, larger steam ships were becoming more commonplace, and were too large to use the canal. Nowadays, the canal is largely used for recreational purposes. 

Duncansby Head, located in northern Scotland, is the northernmost point on the British mainland. It is a set of dramatic sandstone cliffs that overlook the sea. Some of the cliffs reach up to 200 feet high. Exploring the area along the coastal pathway will give you a great opportunity to see some of the region's unique seabirds and other wildlife. Some of the birds you might see include guillemot, kittiwakes, and puffins, depending on the time of year. 

From Duncansby Head, visitors will have a view of the Duncansby Stacks, a group of large jagged sea rocks, and Thirle Door, a rocky arch. Sometimes it is also possible to catch a glimpse of some of the sea life here, including seals, dolphins, minke and killer whales. The nearby village of John O'Groats is the northernmost settlement on the mainland of Britain, and the Duncansby Head Lighthouse marks the northernmost point. 

Overlooking Loch Roag and the hills of Great Bernera, the Callanish Standing Stones comprise 13 large stones set around a Celtic cross"“shaped monolith, with some 40 smaller stones radiating out from the center. Built between 3,800 and 5,000 years ago, this stone circle was erected at around the same time as the pyramids of Egypt.

If you come to this Neolithic site independently, head to the Calanais Visitor Centre to find out more about the prehistoric monument. Alternatively, visit the enigmatic site in the company of a guide who can shed light on its history and the many theories regarding its function and purpose, as well as share folk tales associated with the stones. 

The Callanish Stones feature on multi-day tours of the Outer Hebrides departing from Edinburgh or Inverness. Shorter tours, lasting up to three days, tend to focus on the Isle of Lewis and Harris, while longer tours often make stops at the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides and parts of the Scottish Highlands too. 

Callanish Standing Stones are about 17 miles (27 kilometers) west of Stornoway. To get here from Stornoway, follow the A859 and A858 roads; the journey takes about 30 minutes. Public transit is not available, so travelers without a car are best going as part of an organized tour. 

While you can see the stones at any time of the year, the visitor center is open only from April to September (daily), and from October to March (Wednesday through Saturday). Because of its off-the-beaten-path location, the site is never overrun with tourists. For some excellent photo opportunities, go at dawn or dusk.

The island of Lewis and Harris is littered with remnants of long-gone civilizations. Just a few miles from the Callanish Stones is Dun Carloway, a well-preserved Iron Age broch (a circular stone construction). Farther south, on the island of South Uist, is Cladh Hallan"”a settlement believed to date back to around 2,200 BC"”where you can see the outline of ancient roundhouses.

In 1850, a wild storm engulfed the isle of Orkney, ripping the grass from the Skara Brae sand dune to reveal 5,000-year-old stone dwellings. Older than the Egyptian pyramids, older even than Stonehenge, Skara Brae is remarkable in how well it’s been preserved. Even the neolithic furniture is intact: stone beds, chairs and dressers that were used by the prehistoric fishermen, hunters and farmers can all be seen here. 

 

Set by the sandy bay of Skaill and run by Historic Scotland, Skara Brae is said to be the best preserved prehistoric settlement in Northern Europe. An important part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage site, the well-equipped visitor center houses an interactive museum, gift shop, cafe and an impressive recreation of how one of the dwellings may have looked when it was lived in thousands of years ago. 

 

At the site, you can also see impressive archaeological discoveries like primitive dice, jewelry and stone sculptures that are thought to have been used in religious ceremonies. No weapons have ever been found here though; it seems like the people of Skara Brae were a peace-loving lot. 

Surrounded by heather hills and cut in two by the Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus serves as a spot for day-trippers to relax and watch the boats master the longest lock system on the canal. Running from coast to coast, the Caledonian Canal was designed in 1822 to give merchant skippers a shortcut across the country and to help keep boats out of harm’s way. At the time, pesky French pirates were prone to scouring the open seas! Those interested in the canal can find out more at the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre. Also of interest is the Clansman Centre, which provides insight into 17th-century Highland life.

Visitors to Fort Augustus include cyclists and pedestrians tackling the Great Glen Way, a 73-mile trail that runs from Inverness in the east to Fort William on Scotland’s west coast. There are always plenty of Loch Ness Monster hunters enjoying tea and cake around the village, too.

Using projections and special effects, this immersive exhibition focuses on the ecology of Loch Ness and the mysterious monster that supposedly swims its waters. Curious visitors find out about the lake habitat and the likelihood of a monster surviving here, as well as learning about previous monster hunts, research missions, and hoaxes. 

The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is spread across seven themed areas, each offering high-tech multimedia presentations focusing on Scotland’s most storied loch. Visitors can review the evidence regarding Nessie’s existence with exhibits that help separate fact from fiction. Organized tours from Inverness often combine a visit to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition with a cruise on the lake itself, and—on some tours—a trip to the ruins of Urquhart Castle, an atmospheric medieval fortress set on the banks of Loch Ness.  

The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is located in Drumnadrochit, 14.5 miles (23 kilometers) south of Inverness. Public transport (bus lines 17,19, 119, and 919) connect Inverness to Drumnadrochit, but departures can be infrequent at times. The easiest way for car-free travelers to go is by organized tour. 

The center is open year-round, and is at its quietest first thing in the morning and at last entry. For visitors who want to combine a trip to the center with a cruise on Loch Ness, note that some operators only offer boat cruises between Easter and October. 

At the center, visitors can learn all about the important Nessie sightings and research expeditions that have taken place over the years. Among the most famous monster hunt expeditions was that involving the tiny Machan submarine in the 1970s (the submarine is on show here at the center) and Operation Deepscan in 1987, which utilized cutting-edge sonar equipment to trawl the vast loch. 

Perched atop a hill by the River Ness, this Victorian-era red sandstone castle—built to replace the medieval fortress blown up by the Jacobites in 1746—is one of Inverness’ most prominent historic structures. Access to the castle, now occupied by government offices and law courts, is restricted but the grounds are open to the public. 

Inverness Castle has long played an important role in Scotland’s story, and is a must-visit for history buffs. Thanks to its elevated setting at the summit of Castle Hill, it also affords views over the river and Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Most visitors explore independently, strolling around the grounds to see a Flora MacDonald statue and informational plaques detailing the site’s history. It’s a good place to get a primer on local historical information before venturing to nearby sites with Jacobite connections, such as the Culloden Battlefield or Urquhart Castle. Guided sightseeing tours of the city typically include a glimpse of the castle exterior, while hop-on hop-off bus tours also stop at the castle site.

Inverness Castle is located on the east side of the River Ness in Inverness city center. The castle is a 15-minute walk from Inverness rail station. Local buses stop at nearby Castle Street and on Castle Road. 

The views from Inverness Castle are best on clear, sunny days. The grounds are busiest during warm summer weather, but even then, crowds are rare. The setting is romantic at sunset, when the sun’s soft rays hit the surface of the River Ness.

Inverness Castle has long played a prominent role in the lore of Scotland, with a history that stretches all the way back to the 11th century. It features in both fiction and history books, having been the setting for part of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and the Jacobites razed the castle to the ground just weeks before their final defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Founded in 1838, Glen Ord Distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland. Here, at the only remaining malt whisky distillery on the remote Black Isle, it’s possible to go on a behind-the-scenes tour to see and understand the process of making a single malt from start to finish. You’ll get to check out the barley maltings as well as the fermentation and distillation methods, wandering among the barrels and huge copper stills as you go. 

As is tradition, at the end of the hour-long tour you’ll get to enjoy a single malt tasting or two. As you sip, you’ll learn how to compare and identify the flavors in whisky. And be sure to make the most of your swig; you won’t be able to buy and enjoy Glen Ord whisky anywhere else in the country, as outside the distillery’s whisky store, the single malt is only sold in Asia.

When 550 Italian soldiers were captured in the scorching North African desert back in 1942, it must have caused them quite a shock to be sent in winter to the Scottish isle of Orkne. The POWs were sent here in order to build the “Churchill Barriers,” a series of causeways that would protect the British Grand Fleet in the Scapa Flow harbor. By 1943, the homesick workers requested a chapel where they could worship. What did they get? Two Nissen huts, which they were told to join end-to-end and labor over outside work hours. 

 

What happened next is a beautiful symbol of peace, faith and the power of human ingenuity even in wartime. Local Orkney artists provided brushes and poster paints to decorate the huts; bully beef tins were converted into makeshift candle holders; wood scavenged from shipwrecks was used to create furniture; a car exhaust was covered in concrete to create a Baptismal font. Slowly but surely, those two steel sheds became the Roman Catholic chapel of the Italians’ dreams. 

 

The main man behind the chapel’s decoration was POW Domenico Chiocchetti, who painted a false frontage so that it really looked like the Roman Catholic churches of home. He was so dedicated to the project that when everyone was sent home in 1944, he stayed on to finish the project.

In 1960, Chiocchetti returned to Orkney from his home in Moena, Italy, to assist with a restoration projection of the chapel. When he left three weeks later, he wrote a letter to the people of Orkney: "The chapel is yours, for you to love and preserve. I take with me to Italy the remembrance of your kindness and wonderful hospitality.” 

Towering over the narrow streets of Kirkwall in all its red sandstone glory, St Magnus Cathedral is a testament to the Vikings’ ability to create real beauty amid all that pillaging and plundering. 

 

Commissioned by viking Earl Rögnvald in 1137 to honor his saintly uncle, Magnus Erlendsson, it took over 300 years for St Magnus Cathedral to become the beauty we see today, all Romanesque flourishes and heavy Norman influences. 

 

The only medieval cathedral in Scotland, look out for the hidden dungeon known as Marwick’s Hole, where hundreds of people were imprisoned over the years before being hanged for witchcraft. Today, though, the northern cathedral is much more benign. Come for a Sunday service to listen to the organ being played beautifully, and try to visit the upper tower for 360-degree views of Kirkwall and the sea beyond. 

Considering Corrieshalloch Gorge is such a beautiful spot, full of Caledonian pines and rare Atlantic lichen, it might come as a surprise that its name is actually Gaelic for "Ugly Hollow." Created at the end of the last Ice Age, the gorge is one of Britain's most impressive box canyons. Carved by glacial meltwaters that burst through the Scottish Highlands over 12,000 years ago, today you can walk the trails along the top of the mossy gorge and get great views down the 60-meter deep crevice, where the Droma river flows in a chain of waterfalls until it makes its most impressive roar of all, in a 46-meter plunge from the Falls of Measach. 

 

If you just want to check out the waterfall and head back, follow the trail to the small suspension bridge 300 meters from the car park. From here, you'll get great views of the rushing waters and surrounding woods.

The origins of Drum Castle, one of Scotland's oldest tower houses, can be traced back to the 14th century. Home to the Irvine family for more than six centuries, the estate"”now owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS)"”features a medieval grand hall, a Jacobean mansion house, a Victorian-era library, and an ancient oak forest.

Visitors to Drum Castle can explore the castle interior during a guided tour. Guided tours include a visit to the medieval High Hall, the chance to view the original charter granted by Robert the Bruce, and the opportunity to climb to the top of 700-year-old Drum Tower. Afterward, wander through the walled gardens, including the wonderfully scented Garden of Historic Roses. 

For those who don't want to tour the castle, it's possible to pay for admission to the walled gardens only. And for visitors who want to check off other NTS-managed sites, consider a National Trust for Scotland Discover Ticket, which provides access to 90 different Scottish attractions.

Drum Castle is situated near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Aberdeen. Stagecoach North Scotland bus services 201, 202, and 203 depart from Aberdeen and stop at Drum Castle Road End, about 20"“30 minutes from the castle on foot. 

The castle is open daily from June through August, and Thursday"“Monday during April, May, September, and October. Between November and March, visit on weekends, as the castle is closed midweek. The castle also closes during the Christmas and New Year's period. The grounds are open year-round, though the Garden of Historic Roses is open only April"“October. Perhaps the best time to visit is in June or July, when the roses are in full bloom. 

Adjacent to the castle is an ancient oak forest, where centuries-old trees grow. Visitors who want to get active can choose among several trails. Follow the 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) Woodland Walk or the 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) Drumhill Trail and see if you can spot local wildlife, including roe deer, red kites, and badgers, along the way.

The Culloden Battlefield was the site of one of the last battles to take place on British soil. On April 16, 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army of 5,000 Jacobite Highlanders faced off against the Duke of Cumberland and 9,000 Hanoverian government troops. Though the Jacobites fought valiantly, they were ultimately defeated, resulting in the elimination of the Scottish clan system and the suppression of Highland culture. Today, the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre retells the events of that fateful day through interactive exhibits that put travelers in the thick of the action.

The Culloden Battlefield is a must-see site for any history buff hoping to untangle the story of the British Isles. Visitors can purchase entrance tickets to find themselves on the frontlines of one of the most important battles in British history and explore the popular site at their own pace. The battlefield is also often a stop on guided day tours from Inverness and Invergordon, most of which include round-trip transportation and visits to other famous attractions, such as Loch Ness. Entry to Culloden is included in National Trust for Scotland Discover Tickets,  3- or 7-day sightseeing passes that grant visitors entry to a number of Scottish sights, including Culzean Castle, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, and the Preston Mill. Many travelers combine a visit here with a trip to the nearby Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age site located just 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away.

 

Culloden is about five miles (eight kilometers) east of Inverness. Buses travel from Inverness’ city center to the site, though schedules change seasonally. If traveling without a car, the easiest way to get there is via organized day trip tour from Inverness, most of which include pickup and drop-off.

 

The battlefield is open daily, and most visitors go during summer, when mild weather makes for pleasant strolling around the open-air battlefield site. The visitor center is open daily from 10am to 4pm from January 3 to March 31; from 9am to 5:30pm in April, May, September, and October; from 9am to 6pm in June and July; from 9am to 7pm in August; and from 10am to 4pm from November 1 to December 23, with varying seasonal hours in late December. It’s best to visit in early morning to get in before the crowds.

Visitors can amble around the battlefield in Culloden Moor, where headstones memorialize fallen soldiers and the Memorial Cairn pays homage to those who died for the Jacobite cause. The battlefield is also the setting for Leanach Cottage, a thatched residence that’s one of the few remaining examples of a common building type in the area during the early 18th century.

Set on the shore of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle attracts many visitors that come here in hopes of glimpsing Nessie, the loch’s fabled aquatic monster. The ruined medieval fortress, which was destroyed in 1762 to prevent it from becoming a Jacobite stronghold, now houses a visitor center that exhibits objects found amid the ruins.

 

Almost all organized tours that come to Loch Ness, whether from Inverness, Invergordon, Glasgow, or even Edinburgh, include at least a glimpse of Urquhart Castle. Many tours combine a visit to the crumbling gray-stone castle with a sightseeing cruise on Loch Ness or the Caledonian Canal, while other tours make stops at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition and the Bronze Age Clava Cairns.

 

Explore the castle ruins independently, wander around the battlements, admire the splendor of the Great Hall, scan the lake’s surface for the Loch Ness monster, and examine medieval artifacts on show at the castle’s visitor center. Historic Scotland Explorer Pass holders visit for free.

 

 

Urquhart Castle is situated on the west bank of Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit. From Inverness, drive south along the A82 for around 30 minutes. Buses (including the 19, 917, and 919) connect Inverness bus station to Urquhart Castle.

 

The castle is busiest in summer, when lines often form at the staircase at Grant Tower and the parking lot occasionally fills. Arrive just after opening, or an hour or two before closing, to experience the ruins at their quietest. During the winter months, the castle ruins are peaceful, and moody weather adds to the atmosphere.

 

Urquhart has a long and tumultuous history, with a castle having stood here since at least the 13th century. The fortress was seized, reclaimed, damaged, and restored many times between then and the 17th century. In 1762, the gatehouse was blown up to prevent Jacobites from moving in and establishing a base here. Nowadays, the Historic Environment Scotland manages the evocative ruins.

Established in 1951, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve in the Scottish Highlands is Great Britain's oldest national nature reserve. It covers an area of more than 18 square miles ranging from lochs to mountains. The nature reserve is home to many rare plants and protected animals, including red deer, golden eagles, and pine martens. Several hiking trails of varying difficulty are available for exploring the area. Three paths that start near the visitor center are open all year. For those looking for longer hikes, there is a woodland trail that goes through the ancient pine forest, and a mountain trail that climbs into the mountainous terrain and offers a more strenuous excursion. 

Beinn Eighe itself is a huge cluster of rugged mountains, ridges, and scree-covered slopes between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon. This area offers opportunities for more challenging trekking for more experienced hikers.

No bricks, no mortar, no buttress -- just stone placed on top of stone on an exposed Lewis hilltop nearly 2,000 years ago, Carloway Broch roundhouse has stood tall against the Isle of Lewis's raging Atlantic storms since the Iron Age. Looking out to Loch Roag, this is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland, and parts of the Dun Carloway still come close to its original height at nine meters tall. 

 

It's not clear why these brochs (Scottish drystone roundhouses) were ever built, but it's thought that they could have been the homes of the high-status local leaders. Even though the building of brochs fell out of fashion in 150 AD, this multi-story roundhouse has continued to be used through the ages. 

 

Dun Carloway was even the scene of one particularly dramatic fight back in the 1500s, when a party of Morrisons stole cattle from the Macaulay clan and hid out in the broch. What did the Macaulays do? Smoke their enemies out with burning heather, of course. 

 

Next to Dun Carloway is the Doune Broch visitor center, where you can learn all about Iron Age life on the Isle of Lewis and get a sense of how life here must have been all those years ago. 

Ever wanted to see bottlenose dolphins feed and play in the wild? Chanonry Point is just the spot. A narrow peninsula in Scotland’s Moray Firth, dolphins can be spotted here throughout the year. In summer though, you’ll often see dolphins come right up to the shore as they chase the salmon that come and go in the rivers Ness and Beauly. 

 

The best spot for dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point is on the pebble beach behind the lighthouse, or at the path near the car park entrance. Try to come around incoming tide, which is an hour or two after low tide. Why? This is when the dolphins love to fish and play in the strong currents. While you’re here, keep a look out for porpoises and grey seals too. And between May and October, you may even see Minke whales. 

 

You can also take boat trips out on the water from Cromarty and Avoch, just along the coast. In nearby North Kessock, between June and September, the Dolphin and Seal Centre is another great place to look out for dolphins. 

Separated from the northern tip of mainland Scotland by the choppy waters of the Pentland Firth strait, the Orkney Islands are an archaeological wonderland. Comprised of about 20 inhabited islands and many more uninhabited ones, the archipelago is littered with prehistoric ruins and Viking remnants. The islands’ interiors, a patchwork of heather-clad moors and fertile grasslands, are encircled by superb sandy beaches and sheer coastal cliffs.

 

The Orkney Islands showcase a side of Scotland few visitors ever get to see. Travelers can visit on guided day trips from John O’Groats, which typically include boat travel to Burwick and transport via the Churchill Barriers, a network of causeways that link the Orkney Mainland (the biggest island in the archipelago) to four other smaller islands to the south. Travelers can also see the islands as part of multi-day tours from Edinburgh that cover highlights of the Scottish Highlands too. Most guided Orkney tours will include a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Skara Brae, a prehistoric stone settlement that’s older than the Egyptian pyramids, and the Lamb Holm Italian Chapel, which was constructed by Italian prisoners of war during World War II.

 

Direct flights to Kirkwall run from the Scottish mainland cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. NorthLink Ferries operate services from Scrabster to Stromness on Mainland Orkney (90 minutes), and from Aberdeen to Kirkwall on Mainland Orkney (six hours). Pentland Ferries run a route from Gills Bay to St. Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay (one hour). From May to September, John O’Groats Ferries carry passengers between John O’Groats and Burwick on South Ronaldsay (40 minutes).

No matter what time of the year, solitude and serenity can be found on the Orkneys. Because of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, the islands are rarely subject to extreme weather, though the biting wind can make it feel colder than it is. Summer is the best time to go, as longer daylight hours facilitate exploration.

The Orkney Islands are jam-packed with attractions. In addition to the Stone Age temple complex known as the Ness of Brodgar and the Viking-era graffiti in the Neolithic Maeshowe tomb, visitors can survey sunken warships while scuba diving around the Scapa Flow, admire the 1,136-foot-tall (346-meter) cliffs on the island of Hoy, and stroll the boulder-strewn Rackwick Beach.