Inverness, a little city in the Scottish Highlands that offers far more than its size would imply, is tucked away between a mountain and the sea. The following list of 8 reasons to visit is inclusive of a promise of a cordial Highland welcome.
1. The entrance to the Highlands is there.
Most visitors to Inverness are more interested in the surroundings than the town itself. From Inverness, you may easily travel to several amazing places like:
- Loch Ness
- Urquhart Castle
- Culloden Battlefield
- Culver Castle
2. Strangely lovely wild nature
Inverness is in the ideal location for visitors to enjoy all of the Highlands’ natural beauty, including its wildlife, trees, plants, and everything from mushrooms to shellfish. It is astounding and easy to access the variety of varied natural landscapes and seascapes. With Merkinch Local Nature Reserve on the Beauly Firth’s banks or the hill of Craig Phadrig rising above the homes below, you don’t even need to leave the city to view things.
It is feasible to walk or ride a bike just a short distance outside of the city and feel as though you are in the middle of nowhere. The River Ness and the Caledonian Canal also add more opportunities for nature watching.
3. From Loch Ness, it takes only 20 minutes.
Most people undoubtedly travel to Inverness to see this famed Loch. Travelers from all over the world are attracted by stories of the enigmatic monster that is said to lurk under the surface.
4. Urquhart’s Castle objectives
The 13th-century Urquhart Castle is tucked away on the shore of Loch Ness. It has a long history and was formerly inhabited by royalty. The MacDonald clan also occasionally raided it. The kitchen and stables are still plainly visible, and you can climb one of the towers for views of Loch Ness even though much of it has collapsed.
The cost of admission is £9 at the main entry, or you can pay an additional £9 to incorporate it in a Loch Ness boat tour. Before you reboard, the ship drops you off at Urquhart for an hour.
5. Its history is indisputable.
History abounds in Inverness, whether it be more private memories of the past or historical occurrences that affected the future of the United Kingdom and the entire world, such as the adjacent Culloden battlefield. Many visitors travel from afar in search of their ancestors or the homes that their relatives occupied before they emigrated from Scotland.
Inverness is the place to be for the Scottish Highland diaspora, and the Highland Archive Centre frequently offers enticing and revelatory hints. Such a visit may result in intense feelings.
6. No matter the season, it is very lovely.
No matter what time of year you visit Inverness, the Highlands will serve as a stunning backdrop, offering you beautiful views and hues. By summer, the hills are turning purple as the heather blooms, autumn brings the gold and scarlet of the leaves, and winter is when the mountains are blanketed in immaculate snow.
In the spring, everything is bursting with new life and is green and vibrant. In the Highlands, this period of prolonged daylight is known as “The Gloaming” since it lasts late into the night in the middle of the year.
Winter’s chillier temperatures provide the ideal justification for curling up with a dram of whiskey next to a crackling fire. Visitors who enjoy taking pictures should pay particular attention to the seasons because the light is continuously changing.
7. The castle’s perspective
Looking for the town’s greatest view? You may enjoy views of the rolling landscape and snow-capped mountains by climbing up to Inverness Castle. You can climb the tower for £5. Even without climbing the tower, a visit to the castle is free and worth it.
8. Regardless of how you get there, the journey is amazing.
Both the bus route and the rail ride to Inverness are breathtaking. You’ll have to travel through the Cairngorms National Park, which is a highlight in and of itself, coming from Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Numerous guesthouses and mountains provide tour and adventure programs. It seems that Nat Geo even listed it among the top 20 locations to visit in the globe. Seeing it while traveling to Inverness is a fantastic alternative if you are unable to make a stop.
