Top 5 Things To Do in Inverness
Inverness as a Tourist Destination
The Scottish Highlands settle in serenity at Inverness. It’s the essential solemnity of just that is as old as the myth of a dragon that sets Inverness as a special place. Where else in the world would you find the dragon of Loch Ness sharing stories of fairies of Reelig Glen? Then again, there’s this myth of magical trees at the Munlochy Clootie Well, which is a Celtic pilgrimage site surrounding a well that is believed to have deep healing powers.
Although visiting Loch Ness is considered one of the most important things to do in Inverness, the other magical attractions add that unusual touch of wonder to the place. Not everyone believes in dragons, fairies, and wishing wells, though! Even so, you can still enjoy being in the old town, maybe just for a dream of Scotch whiskey and live music at one of the pubs here. It’s a great place to go on a city hike or a forest adventure, wherever your travels take you. You can also shop at the Victorian Market, which is well over 100 years old, or spend an hour or two shopping at the Leakey’s, located in a church, the biggest second-hand bookstore in Scotland.
The best way to explore Inverness is just to walk around in different places and feel the ambience. The Victorian bridge on the river is rather photogenic, and you would come across it as you stroll around the riverside. You might want to make a trip to the Old High Church and the adjacent graveyard. This old church once served as the cradle of Christianity in the Scottish Highlands, and the graveyard was once a site for a firing squad after the Battle of Culloden. If you look for the details, you can still find bullet holes in some of the tombstones. For more walking adventures, you must visit the Ness Islands, where an old tree stump may remind you of Nessie coming out of the waters!
Things To Do in Inverness
1. Visit Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
If you are in Inverness, chances are, you believe in the mythical dragon of Loch Ness. Do you know that there have been well over a thousand supposed sightings of the ‘beast’ lurking in those deep waters? Every single day, scores of tourists still embark on a boat ride on Loch Ness with a flutter in their hearts, wondering whether dragons are real! You never know; you may be in luck, so keep your cameras ready as you make that trip to Loch Ness.
On the lakeside stands the Urquhart, the silent sentinel of the solemn ambience that surrounds this mythical place. The eternal mystery of Loch Ness makes Inverness one of the most sought-after places to visit in Scotland, and you should not miss it either! The surrounding landscape is essentially majestic, with the hills and the clouds coming together to blend with the lake in perfect harmony. Cycling tours around Loch Ness are available, which is a great way to explore the scenery.
2. Tour the Culloden Battlefield
On a day just like today, on the 16th of April in 1746, death descended on the Culloden Battlefield in the Scottish Highlands. The Jacobite army was mercilessly slain by the Government troops, with a toll of more than 1600 souls added to the Book of Death in less than one hour. When you visit the Culloden Battlefield near Inverness, you may still feel that chill in the air thinking of the massacre once witnessed in this field.
There’s a museum to commemorate the tragic event where you can have a look at the weapons that were once signed by the Grim Reaper, killing the hapless Jacobite soldiers who were mercilessly outnumbered. If the sight of murderous weapons makes you depressed, you can also buy jewelry items crafted from the flowers of the battlefield. A tour of Culloden is one of the most iconic things to do in Inverness, especially if you are interested in historical perspectives.
3. Explore Inverness Castle
The Inverness Castle is a renowned landmark in the city, but the original battlements were destroyed long ago by an angry King! Throughout history, the castle witnessed a succession of insurrections, wars, treasons, executions, and rebellions. Also, it’s kind of a fictional place because William Shakespeare imagined the castle as the setting for the ominous murder of Duncan by Lady Macbeth in the famous play.
Quite fittingly, the story of the castle is also associated with the life of Mary, the Queen of Scots, who faced a tragic end just like Lady Macbeth in the drama. The castle was regarded as an emblem of the Highlander resilience, and it still stands on the banks of the River Ness in its present form. For the best time to visit Inverness, you should ideally plan a trip in early September when the weather is more pleasant. The summer months of June to August are the peak seasons, and you can expect a lot of footfall, leading to a crowded scene.
4. Walk along the River Ness and Ness Islands
Walking around the Ness Islands sets the stage for one of the most wonderful tourist attractions in Scotland. These are river islands that are interconnected with quaint Victorian footbridges, creating a lovely magical experience. Surrounded by greenery, birdsongs, ancient trees, and the sweetheart River Ness, you would feel like stepping into a fairytale scene in the Scottish Highlands. You can also walk a shortcut instead of the 3-mile hike and still explore the sweetness of the Ness Islands. You would find benches placed along the way, just so that you can have a rest if your feet feel tired from the hike.
There’s also this fallen tree stump from the ground to the river that looks like Nessie. So, if you really want to come back home and say to everyone that you have seen the friendly Loch Ness monster, it won’t be an exaggeration. The riverside walk by itself is one of the best ways to explore Inverness, with the Greig Street Bridge as one of the milestones of the trip.
5. Shop and Dine in the Victorian Market
The Victorian Market is a picturesque shopping destination in the heart of the city, where you can find several shops, cafes, and restaurants. The building is over a hundred years old and has been a major landmark of Inverness from 1890 to the present times. The domed roof constructed of ornate wood and cast iron creates a fascinating old-world vibe surrounding the modern stores. The juxtaposition of the old and the new is maintained beautifully, and you will surely enjoy shopping here. This market is one of the highlights of Inverness as a tourist destination, especially when you want to shop for local goodness or dine at a café. The market has three key intersections, and more than 30 independent retailers are selling their wares in swanky stores.
Many of these businesses have been settled in the market for generations, offering all the best that Inverness has to offer for you to take home. The Church Street entrance has an old sandstone block where you can still find markings made by the knives of the old fish merchants of the Victorian Market.
