Inverness Area

Culloden House Hotel

Inverness

Culloden

Area Main Page

For the motorist, the city of Inverness is now bypassed by the A9 which sweeps past the east of the city on its way to the Kessock Bridge over the Beauly Firth. Nonetheless, Inverness remains the gateway to the north of Scotland. It serves as the centre of communication, commerce and administration for this large and sparsely populated region. Buses and trains leave from here for destinations in the far north and west: and Inverness is well served by links to and from all points south. You can browse books about Inverness in our Bookshop (this may take a moment to load).

Inverness itself is set on the banks of the River Ness and retains parts of its medieval street network, though the town's role on the centre stage of much of Scotland's violent history means that few buildings of historical significance remain from its early history. Much of present day Inverness dates to the 1800s and the completion of the Caledonian Canal. A range of more modern architecture can also be found, especially where the city has extended to take in the southern shores of the Beauly Firth.

The Inverness Castle that now sits overlooking the River Ness is a 19th Century building used as the Sheriff Court. There has been a castle on this site since the 1000s when a timber building was erected to oversee maritime trade. This was replaced by a stone castle in the 1100s, which was itself rebuilt in the 1400s before being repaired and extended in the 1700s. This castle was blown up by the Jacobites in 1746 (see our Historical Timeline). Inverness Castle now also serves as the official end (or start) point of the Great Glen Way, the new 73 mile long distance path linking Inverness with Fort William.

The Castle Garrison Encounter is housed in the Drum Tower of the castle and is open to visitors during the summer months. Actors representing characters from the Hanoverian army of 1746 help bring to life events in the town at the time of the Battle of Culloden, fought just five miles to the south east. Culloden itself offers a visitor centre and tours of the battlefield, now mostly cleared of its forest and looking more as it would have appeared during the last battle to be fought in mainland Great Britain; and the last, losing, throw of the dice for the Jacobites. A mile and a half north west of the battlefield is the superb Culloden House Hotel.

Less well known but very close to Culloden are the Clava Cairns, a trio of burial cairns each with surrounding standing stones in beautiful wooded setting. Close to Inverness Airport is the Highland Aviation Museum.

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery offers free admission to its permanent and touring exhibitions and to children's workshops held there. Across the river and further upstream is the Eden Court Theatre. Nearby is Inverness Cathedral, part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The River Ness dominates the city and has much to offer visitors. Anglers are to be found fishing for salmon here during the summer months, and the Island Walks offer a peaceful haven just a stroll along its banks from the city centre. The comings and goings along the Caledonian Canal can be viewed from Tomnahurich Bridge beyond the Aquadome, where regular cruises also depart on tours of Loch Ness.

There is plenty of accommodation in Inverness, good shopping, and in summer lavish floral displays make this an attractive place to stay. Inverness also lies within easy reach of most of the region's best-known attractions and is an ideal touring base.