Inverness, the capital of the Highlands-- a royal burgh and seaport at the northernmost part of Great Glen on both sides of the Ness River. As one of the oldest inhabited sites in Scotland, Inverness does not offer much historical sites but it does make a good base for touring. Even if you are just in for a short visit, touring Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle of Macbeth fame and the most enchanting peninsula in Scotland, the Black Isles is more than enough to satisfy you till the very last day of your stay.
However, if you are in for a tour of this captivating place for its entire splendor, there are a number of attractions that are a must-see. You can take a look at the remains of a vitrified fort on Craig Phadrig that is believed to date all the way back to the 4th century B.C or you can drop by at the Stones of Clava, one of the most prehistoric monuments in the north where the standing stones and cairns date from the Bronze Age.
Another landmark that you should never fail to visit is the old castle of Inverness, which has a dramatic history of its own. David I built the first stone castle around 1411 east to the present street Castlehill although the site still retains the name, Auld Castlehill. To prevent the castle from falling into the hands of government troops, rebellious Scots blew the old castle up in 1746. Rebuilt by the Victorians in the 19th century, the castle that stands where the old one used to be houses the important government offices of Inverness.
Other historical sites include the 16th century Abertarff House, now the headquarters of An Commun Gaidhealach, the Highland Association of Gaelic language and culture preservation. There is also Old Mercat Cross with its Stone of the Tubs, believed to be the stone where women rested their washtubs as they came up from the river. The lozenge-shaped stone is also known as Clachnacudainn the very spot where local early kings were crowned.
Then there is also St. Andrew’s Cathedral which stands at Ardross Street looking all imposing and grand. Richly decorated, the St. Andrew’s Cathedral is a fine example of Victorian architecture. At St. Andrew’s Cathedral, you can take a peek at the icons given to Bishop Eden by the Czar of Russia.
And if you want to take a bus tour of the Highlands and cruises on Loch Ness, drop by at Inverness Traction where you can also take cruises along the Caledonian Canal from Inverness into Loch Ness. If you’d like to go for country walks complete with all the panoramic views, the Hill of the Fairies is the right place to go.
For those who love golf, you can enjoy a great game at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Torvean Golf Course!
But what would any trip be without shopping? For the best of Scottish Souvenirs, the family-owned shrine to kiltmaking, Duncan Chrisholm and Sons offer tartans of at least 50 of Scotland’s largest clans and a section devoted Scottish gifts and memorabilia.
You can also drop by at the 2 major shopping areas in the center of Inverness for a more contemporary shopping experience, the Eastgate Inverness Shopping Center and the Victorian Market. If jewelry makes your day sparkle, Silvercraft at the Victorian Market offers a wide selection of diamond, fold and silver jewelry and a friendly atmosphere which makes for a truly enjoyable shopping experience.
Another great place to shop at the Victorian Market is the Heraldic Art Design where hand-embroidered coats of arms made in the UK with gold and silver threads are its specialty. You can also find crests of military branches or your favourite football team there.
Another great stop for Scottish finds is the Boarstone Tartans where you can buy every traditional Scottish clothes item, from kilt jackets to tartan trousers to Highland dress outfits and accessories.
When the sun starts to set at the horizon, you can spend your evening in the town’s pubs drinking in samples of single-malt whiskies or beers on tap. It may not be the frisky exciting nightlife you may be accustomed to and the pubs themselves may not have the authentic charm of the secluded pubs of the rural areas but you will still find a lot of Highlander flavor in Inverness, literally and figuratively.
Find flights to Scotland and compare flight prices with all the major airlines and travel agents.
Other City Breaks in Europe
