Inverness is the small, sleepy capital of the Scottish Highlands. It can be explored in one day, but also makes a great base for day trips to Loch Ness, the Culloden Battlefields and the Isle of Skye.
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Inverness Basics
Inverness is located in the north of Scotland. The name literally means “mouth of the ness” because the River Ness empties into the Beauly Firth near Inverness, which is an inlet that leads to the ocean.
Gaelic originated in the Highlands, and is still spoken across the country. You might wander past some locals and catch a little bit of Gaelic! But I found the Scottish accent to be very thick in this area, so sometimes I still couldn’t understand them, even if they were speaking English!
Inverness has repeatedly been rated as one of the happiest places in Scotland, last year coming second to Galashiels.
When to Visit Inverness
Winter in Inverness is cold and harsh. In fact, even in summer, temperatures usually don’t exceed 20°C! Unless you’re a big fan of winter sports or you are very winter-tolerant, Inverness is best explored in the summer months of late May to the end of September.
I visited Inverness in July and found the city to still be quite sleepy and relaxed: nothing compared to Edinburgh or London. Also, I was COLD. I wore a jumper and jacket every day, and actually bought a scarf because I was SO cold.
TIP: Bring a RAIN JACKET! The weather in Scotland, even in summer, is SO unpredictable. The only thing you can predict is that it WILL rain at least once a day.
How to Get to Inverness
Plane
I recommend flying to London rather than flying directly to Inverness.
Firstly, because that would be BLOODY expensive, and secondly, because you’d miss out on the lovely Scottish countryside!
If you’re in a hurry, flights from London to Inverness are pretty affordable.
Train
I would recommend catching the train from either Edinburgh or London (with a stop at Edinburgh).
Pre-book your tickets well in advance and make use of railcards to get the best deal. The journey takes about 3.5 hours.
Bus
Buses to Inverness from Edinburgh are a pretty similar price to trains, but the journey will take about 4 hours.
How to get cheap train tickets in the UK?
- Make use of railcards (30% discount)
- Pre-book during early-bird sales (usually 3 month in advance)
- Check prices on different platforms
Where to Stay in Inverness
$ Hostel $
Inverness Student Hostel
8 Culduthel Rd, Inverness IV2 4AB, United Kingdom.
Inverness doesn’t have many options when it comes to hostels. Inverness Student Hostel is the closest to the centre of town and has quirky decor. You can also get brekky there for a decent price. Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
Castle Viewpoint B&B
22 Ardconnel St, Inverness IV2 3EX, United Kingdom.
I can personally vouch that the beds in this quaint b&b are the comfiest in Inverness, and potentially all of Scotland. The owner is the loveliest person and the rooms are adorable. Brekky was yum, too. It’s on a hill so it has a great view across the city. Check availability or see other options.
How to Get Cheap Accommodation
- Peak time to travel to Inverness is in summer (June-August) and around Christmas. Accommodation is the most expensive during this time. To get the best deal, travel during the off season, when beds can be as low as £20 (as of 2024). Off season includes January to early May, and September to early December.
- Book in advance, especially during the peak seasons.
- Booking via the official hostel website can sometimes (not always) get you a better deal than booking via third-party websites. However, third party websites do sometimes provide more flexibility for cancellation or changes.
How to Get Around Inverness
Inverness is a very compact, walkable city, so there is no need for tourists to use public transport.
Walking Tour Map
Inverness Cathedral
Inverness Cathedral
Ardross St, Inverness IV3 5NN, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Price: £2
Website: https://invernesscathedral.org/
This self-guided walking tour begins at Inverness Cathedral.
Inverness Cathedral is open every day from 9am to 6pm. It costs £2 for a self-guided tour through the church.
They also offer services you can attend for free, usually at 9:15am and 5pm, but check on their website.
I didn’t get to visit the Inverness Cathedral because a wedding was being held there.
Ness Walk
Continue heading south and follow the Ness Walk along the River Ness. This walk is so peaceful, and I loved seeing the scattering of old guys in their fishing waders standing in the river.
If you’re not up for a long (ish) walking tour, then cross the river at the Infirmary Bridge. This will skip the Botanic Gardens and the Ness Islands, but continue the walking tour to stop 5 (Flora McDonald Statue).
Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens
Bught Ln, Inverness IV3 5SS, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 3:45pm
Price: By donation
Website: https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-botanic-gardens/
As you make your way only the Ness Walk, you’ll see the Ness Islands. We’re going to explore them later!
The Inverness Botanic Gardens feature a Cactus House, Tropical House with a carp pond, and extensive formal gardens.
It’s not the most amazing Botanic Gardens I’ve ever seen, but they (and the cafe) are a nice reward for the 30 minute stroll along Ness Walk.
Ness Islands
This self-guided walking tour explores the Ness Islands.
Cross the river at the Ness Bank Footbridge and head to the right to circumnavigate the first island.
You’ll find that the locals love to come here to walk their dogs.
From the tip of the island is a nice, uninterrupted view of the River Ness.
Cross the footbridge to the biggest Ness Island and then continue back onto the ‘mainland.’
Inverness Travel Essentials
SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.
Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.
Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!
Flora Mcdonald Statue
Head back towards town, up the hill towards Inverness Castle. In front of the castle, you’ll find the statue of Flora McDonald.
Flora McDonald was a Scottish heroine, famous for helping Charles Edward Stuart escape after being defeated at the Battle of Culloden.
From this statue, there is a great view across the city and a nice little park to sit and rest your feet.
Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle
Castle, Inverness IV2 3EG, United Kingdom
Website: https://invernesscastle.scot/
The Inverness Castle has been closed for renovation for many years now, but they recently announced that they will reopen in 2025.
I’m not sure exactly what the experience will be like, but they describe it as “an interactive journey” that “celebrates the Highlands’ spirit.”
I thought I would just add this in case you’re planning your trip for 2025!
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Price: FREE
Website: https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art-gallery/
Continue down to the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. The museum has over 100,000 items spanning a broad range of categories, with a big focus on archaeology of the local area.
High Street
Inverness’ High Street is a joy to explore, as well as the many little alleys that depart from it.
There are tons of gift shops to choose from along this street; I bought a woollen scarf and some postcards.
This would also be a great place to grab some lunch. There are tons of restaurants to choose from (weirdly a lot of Italian?) However, the pubs are the most popular, namely Gellions Bar and Johnny Foxes.
You could also do some shopping if that tickles your fancy: there is a mall at the end of the street.
The Victorian Market
The Victorian Market
Academy St, Inverness IV1 1JN, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm
Website: https://thevictorianmarket.co.uk/
The Victorian Market is home to over 30 different shops and restaurants.
This is the perfect place to hang out if its raining, as it usually is in Inverness.
Old High Church
Old High Church
Church St, Inverness IV1 1EY, United Kingdom
https://www.oldhighststephens.com/
The Old High Church is the oldest in Inverness.
The reverend only serves on a part-time basis, so the church may not be open when you visit. But the exterior of the church is very pretty, and there is a nice cemetery separating the Old High Church from the neighbouring Free Church (Inverness loves their churches!)
Leakey Bookshop
Leakey Bookshop
Church St, Inverness IV1 1EY, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5:30pm
Website: https://leakeysbookshop.com/
Next door is the famous Leakey Bookshop. You’ve probably seen it all over social media; it is famous for its quirky interior and toppling bookshelves that span two levels.
Don’t expect to be stocking up on books though, this bookshop specialises in antique or rare editions of books which are VERY expensive.
If you really want a souvenir, get a Leakey Bookshop tote bag for £14.
Now, from here you could keep walking north. There are a couple more cemeteries to explore, and if you cross the bridge you could walk all the way to Carnac Point.
But if you’re tired of walking, chill out and get a drink and listen to some live music at MacGregors.
What are the best day trips from Inverness?
Loch Ness
If you’re visiting Inverness, you absolutely have to take a day trip to visit the village of Drumnadrochit and to see Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.
You can visit Loch Ness with a tour group, but if you’re on a budget, it is also really easy to do it yourself.
Culloden Battlefields
Another popular day trip from Inverness is the Culloden Battlefields. The Culloden Moor was the location of the last and most bloody Jacobite uprising.
Just an FYI: It is pronounced ‘cuH-lo-den’ not ‘CULL-oh-den’!
This is another day trip that is super easy to do by yourself but there are plenty of tours available.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is another popular and worthwhile day trip from Inverness, and it is probably easiest to join a tour group.
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