Tourism in Inverness
I started putting this together when I thought I'd be getting married in Inverness. Now I have to figure out what there is to do in and around Pitlochry (which should be plenty as it's main industry is tourism), but in the meantime for anyone thinking of visiting me in Inverness:
Things to Do While in Inverness:
You're in luck! Most of the touristy things to do in the Highlands are only open in the summer! If you'd visited us in October through April there'd be a lot less going on. I missed most of last summer so I'm really looking forward to seeing some of these things myself. I'm also a big fan of coach tours - you're on someone else's schedule, but you get a guide, learn a bit more than you otherwise might, and you don't have to do any navigating.
- Near Inverness -
Jacobite Cruises
http://www.jacobite.co.uk/
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_297&PropName=Urquhart%20Castle
My favorite way to see Loch Ness and Urquhart castle is with Jacobite Cruises. They have a lot of different packages to suit most budgets and schedules, from a few hours in the morning or early evening to all day.
Dolphin Cruises
http://www.inverness-dolphin-cruises.co.uk/
The name pretty much says it all. The best time to see dolphins, I'm told, is with the changing of the tides.
Culloden Battlefield
http://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/
The site of the last battle of the Jacobite uprising in 1745 and the start of the Pacification of the Highlands.
Clava Cairns
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverness/clavacairns/
Prehistoric burial cairns located about a mile from Culloden battlefield.
Fort George
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/nairn/fortgeorge/
Built in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite uprising, this fort offers a fascinating view of 18th Century military life.
Cawdor Castle
http://www.cawdorcastle.com/
Though built 300 years after the life and death of the infamous Scottish king, it shares in his notoriety. A beautiful castle on stunning grounds (including several gardens, miles of trails, a 9-hole golf course, and river for salmon fishing). I'm told the nearby town is charming.
Beauly Priory
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/beauly/beaulypriory/index.html
Founded in 1230, this priory now stands in ruins. I'm a big fan of ruined buildings.
Glen Ord Distillery (whisky)
http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/distilleries/highlands/Ord
Black Isle Brewery (beers)
http://www.blackislebrewery.com/
A local, popular micro-brewery.
Moniack Castle Distillery (wines)
http://www.moniackcastle.co.uk/
non-grape wines and preserves
Golf
http://www.golfscotland.com/courses-inverness.asp
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/invern1.htm
- Further Afield -
Harry Potter Train
http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/Jacobite_Steam_Train.html
Departing from Fort William (located at the other end of the Great Glen Way from Inverness - there is no direct rail service between Fort William and Inverness) for daily return trips, this is the route used to film the Harry Potter Films. This train trip is on my Bucket List.
- Tourism websites -
http://www.welcometoscotland.com/regions/inverness-nairn
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/siteindex.html
http://www.visit-inverness.com/
http://www.visithighlands.com/
http://www.inverness-scotland.com/
Things to Do While in Inverness:
You're in luck! Most of the touristy things to do in the Highlands are only open in the summer! If you'd visited us in October through April there'd be a lot less going on. I missed most of last summer so I'm really looking forward to seeing some of these things myself. I'm also a big fan of coach tours - you're on someone else's schedule, but you get a guide, learn a bit more than you otherwise might, and you don't have to do any navigating.
- Near Inverness -
Jacobite Cruises
http://www.jacobite.co.uk/
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_297&PropName=Urquhart%20Castle
My favorite way to see Loch Ness and Urquhart castle is with Jacobite Cruises. They have a lot of different packages to suit most budgets and schedules, from a few hours in the morning or early evening to all day.
Dolphin Cruises
http://www.inverness-dolphin-cruises.co.uk/
The name pretty much says it all. The best time to see dolphins, I'm told, is with the changing of the tides.
Culloden Battlefield
http://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/
The site of the last battle of the Jacobite uprising in 1745 and the start of the Pacification of the Highlands.
Clava Cairns
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverness/clavacairns/
Prehistoric burial cairns located about a mile from Culloden battlefield.
Fort George
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/nairn/fortgeorge/
Built in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite uprising, this fort offers a fascinating view of 18th Century military life.
Cawdor Castle
http://www.cawdorcastle.com/
Though built 300 years after the life and death of the infamous Scottish king, it shares in his notoriety. A beautiful castle on stunning grounds (including several gardens, miles of trails, a 9-hole golf course, and river for salmon fishing). I'm told the nearby town is charming.
Beauly Priory
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/beauly/beaulypriory/index.html
Founded in 1230, this priory now stands in ruins. I'm a big fan of ruined buildings.
Glen Ord Distillery (whisky)
http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/distilleries/highlands/Ord
Black Isle Brewery (beers)
http://www.blackislebrewery.com/
A local, popular micro-brewery.
Moniack Castle Distillery (wines)
http://www.moniackcastle.co.uk/
non-grape wines and preserves
Golf
http://www.golfscotland.com/courses-inverness.asp
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/invern1.htm
- Further Afield -
Harry Potter Train
http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/Jacobite_Steam_Train.html
Departing from Fort William (located at the other end of the Great Glen Way from Inverness - there is no direct rail service between Fort William and Inverness) for daily return trips, this is the route used to film the Harry Potter Films. This train trip is on my Bucket List.
- Tourism websites -
http://www.welcometoscotland.com/regions/inverness-nairn
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/siteindex.html
http://www.visit-inverness.com/
http://www.visithighlands.com/
http://www.inverness-scotland.com/