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Why visit Inverness
Food and Drink
The Scottish food scene, especially in Inverness, is on the cutting edge of culinary culture. From traditional Scottish fare to freshly foraged greens and farm-to-table cuisine, our local guides love the culinary scene of Inverness. While on tour, expand your palate with these must-have meals and spirits.
Haggis
If you’ve been curious to try the Scottish delicacy known as haggis, there’s no place like Inverness to have your first dish. Our local expert will guide you to restaurants where this meaty pudding is served on a regular basis. One such spot many guests say they’ve enjoyed is the Mustard Seed.
Neeps & Tatties
Along with your haggis you’ll most likely be served a side of this plate. While it might sound peculiar, chances are you’ve had mashed potatoes and turnips, also known as neeps and tatties. Relish this hearty dish and you’ll always have plenty of fuel to tour.
Seafood
The fresh seafood you can sample in the Highlands is plentiful thanks to the River Ness. Many restaurants offer a catch of the day that’s truly right off the hooks of Inverness’ fishermen. Our guides suggest heading down to the River to see Atlantic salmon leaping right out of the water!
Whisky
Like wine to a Parisian, the Scots know that whisky is the perfect accompaniment to any fine meal. We’ll happily give you a crash course on Highland whisky and take you on a tour to one of Inverness’ well-appointed whisky distilleries. Don’t you think you deserve a wee dram?
Nature
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by the natural beauty of Inverness. Enjoy a river cruise and glide across the pristine waters of the Loch Ness. Discover the tectonic collision that caused the epic Great Glen. Your trip through Inverness with us will be nothing short of a scenic adventure.
Loch Ness
The Loch Ness has intrigued both Scots and visitors since sightings of an aquatic being were first reported in the 1930s. This sea creature, affectionately named Nessie, has only made our journey across the beautiful waters of Loch Ness that much more exciting. We suggest enjoying a relaxing river cruise along this famed river and ponder what lies beneath.
Ness Islands
After a scenic cruise on the Loch Ness, some guests have continued on upriver to explore the Ness Islands. The natural wonders of these woodland islands are accessible by suspension bridges built in Victorian times. On your leisurely stroll, you might be lucky enough to spot deer running through the trees or seals bobbing in the water.
Great Glen
A unique wilderness experience awaits you in the Highlands’ Great Glen. Travel along this geological fault where you can spot the cloud-covered Ben Nevis Mountain in the distance. Also called Great Glen Way, you’ll come to know it as the linking point between Inverness and Fort William.
Dolphin and Seal Centre
If you didn’t happen to spot Nessie, you’ll find equally magical sea life at the Dolphin and Seal Centre. Local experts will help you spot bottlenose dolphins on a guided walking tour along the mouth of the River Spey. Afterwards, explore the UK’s biggest Icehouse where you can take a dry dive beneath the seas of the Moray Firth and discover the ecosystem that lives below the surface.
Historic Sites
Trace the rich history of Inverness back to medieval times as you tour ancient battlegrounds, visit majestic castles and enter mighty fortresses. The capital of Scotland’s Highlands served as the stage for many epic battles and mythical tales; your discovery of these legendary happenings awaits you in Inverness.
Urquhart Castle
Learn of the Highlands’ heritage as we take you through a spellbinding tour of Urquhart Castle. Ascend the castle’s Grant Tower with your group and look upon the iconic Loch Ness and the rolling hills of the Great Glen. For something a bit more ghoulish, take a look inside one of the prison cells that once held the legendary Gaelic bard, Domhnall Donn.
Fort George
Considered one of the strongest artillery fortifications in Britain, Fort George is a military milestone we think is worth adding to your itinerary while in the Highlands. Feel the power of this defensive post as you explore garrison buildings, find a robust collection of arms, and walk through barrack rooms. This is how war was fought and won centuries ago.
Victorian Market
In Inverness’ Old Town, you’ll find a quaint, open-air Victorian Market. Shop the wares of local artisans and vendors generally not offered on High Street. Your local guide may point out the sandstone arch leading from Church Street to the market’s entrance; it has been partly worn away by the sharpening of fish merchants' knives, as the Market hall was once a fish market.
Culloden Battlefield
Continue on in your education of how Inverness came to be with a tour of Culloden Battlefield. An interactive exhibition allows you to follow along with the characters involved in the battle of Jacobite Rising – the last to be fought on British land. As you walk along the battlegrounds, you can almost picture this final war being waged.
