We have visited Inverness and it is an area we love. We have allowed a little poetic license with the '10 miles from' to include some very special places!
Inverness is the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, and sits where Loch Ness meets the Moray Firth.
The Visitor Information Centre is in the High Street, and guided walks are bookable.
Best known for....
Inverness has a Cathedral, Museum, Art Gallery, and a Castle, but it is it's location, surrounded by beautiful scenery and interesting places to visit that makes it a great hub! The Botanic garden is lovely, and Whin Park is good for families.
Loch Ness is just 10 miles away, with access to walks, drives, cycle paths and water based activities... oh and Nessie spotting of course!
Fort George is 14 miles NE on the S shore of the Moray Firth. It is a formidable 18th century artillery complex, which also contains a museum about the Highlanders.
Worth seeking out...
In Inverness, walk between the Ness Islands on Victorian Bridges, and visit the Victorian Market.
Leakeys bookshop is a gem!
The Black isle is a peninsula to the NE of Inverness with some beautiful scenery and a fascinating history. Cromarty, at it's tip, is a lovely spot for wandering, and visiting it's small but very interesting museums, Hugh Miller's Birthplace (NTS), and the Old Courthouse.
Rosemarkie is a pretty beachside village with access to Chanonry Point where dolphins may be spotted on a rising tide, chasing in the fish. Be patient!
Close by is Groam House Museum, a small but fascinating collection of displays and workshops relating to the history of the region, in particular Pictish and Celtic artifacts.
Udale Bay RSPB is an excellent spot to watch birds...and oil rigs!
The Black Isle Brewery is worth a visit!
Moving south of the Moray Firth, the Culloden Battlefield visitor centre is fascinating (NTS), and close by are the somewhat older, and equally fascinating bronze age Clavia cairns. On the coast at Connage is the wonderful Connage Highland Cheese pantry, selling an amazing array of cheeses alongside a nice cafe.
Cawdor Castle and gardens are well worth a visit, and are close to the seaside town of Nairn.
Walks and Nature Check maps and opening times first.
So many opportunities for walks and cycle rides abound in this area.
One that we loved was the walk at the Fairy Glen at Rosemarkie, up to the waterfalls.
The Rogie Falls circuit is lovely, and you may see leaping salmon in summer.
The riverside walk from Nairn to Cawdor (5 miles)
There are long distance trails too, notably the Caledonian Way from Inverness to Fort William, and the South Loch Ness Trail. Also the Great Glen canoe trail!
Information!
Lots of parking options. Campervans and smaller motorhomes can park in the daytime on some car parks, but buy 2 tickets if you take up more than one space.
Places to eat £ under £10pp ££ £10-20pp £££ over £20pp
Lots of great places to eat, so these are just our favourites and recommendations of friends! As usual, please check opening times, prices and current reviews.
Coffee, cakes, Snacks,
£ Inverness: Cafe Artysans, Velocity cafe and Bike shop!, Connage highland cheese pantry; Slaughterhouse coffee, Cromarty; Cawdor Castle Cafe;
Take away
£ McLeod's Fish and Chips, Inverness
Meals
££ Inverness: Coyotes, Cheese and Tomatin, Mustard Seed, Nar Mediterranean Turkish, Fig and Thistle;
One One Two, Nairn; Accommodation
Plentiful accommodation of all types in the area. Campers are well served too. The Rosemarkie Camping and Caravan club site is close to Chanonry point if you want to try Dolphin watching!
There are wild camping options in the countryside but please follow the rules.
We are campervan owners ourselves, and we ask you, please, if you visit the area in a campervan or motorhome, please only dispose of your rubbish, grey waste and toilet waste in proper, designated facilities. Doing anything else gets all campers a bad name, and will only result in it becoming harder for all of us to access lovely places Leave only Footprints!
Inverness castle photo by Dave Conner