If you’re looking for a short break away to the beautiful country of Scotland, then no doubt you’ve quickly realised that you are spoilt for choice on where to stay. From top to bottom, Scotland offers a landscape that is truly unique and inspiring, with endless mountains, lochs and delightfully barren open countryside. Often near the top of places to visit in Scotland is the modern city of Inverness, which has plenty to offer people of all ages. So if you’re considering a holiday to Scotland, here are eight fantastic reasons to make Inverness a place you visit for a day or more.
In case you weren’t aware, Culloden Moor is the site of one of the most recent and also most important battles to take place which has shaped the UK as we know it today. A decisive victory here by the English ended the Jacobite uprising and allowed Scotland to be brought into the UK. The site now has a visitor centre where you can learn more about this crucial part of Scotland’s backstory.
Perhaps the most famous Loch in the world, Loch Ness has for years played host to endless myths and legends about the ever-allusive Loch Ness monster. Aside from this, it is a truly breathtaking spot which you can walk, cycle or even take a boat out onto. Better yet, it’s only a short drive or cycle from Inverness and can be the highlight of a day out.
You may not have heard of Cawdor Castle, but you will have heard of the famous play Macbeth, which features this castle at the root of its story. It dates all the way back to the 14th century and interestingly is still owned by the Cawdor family. Back when it was built it served as a fortress, and today its splendour can be enjoyed both from the inside and outside.
No trip to Scotland would be complete without a tour of a proper whisky distillery. Glen Ord is the perfect place to go on a tasting tour and try their own signature blend as well as a wide range of other varieties. The distillery is just a short ride outside of Inverness and dates back to the mid-1800s.
This theatre is becoming increasingly renowned and was recently reopened to include a number of theatre spaces, dance studios and even a cinema. As a visitor, you can take the time to enjoy a musical or even an opera performance, and take in an example of modern Scottish contemporary architecture.
First laid out by Thomas Telford in the 1900s, Caledonian Canal is today marked as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is considered by many to be one of the greatest waterways in the world. It starts in Inverness and stretches for 100 km across the Great Glen. Choose to explore the entire route by bike, or enjoy some smaller stretches on foot. You can take frequent stops at a number of quaint and rustic pubs along the way.
By Scottish standards, Inverness is incredibly modern and only changed from being a town in the year 2000 after beating many other cities in a race to become Scotland’s 5th city. As such, Inverness is best enjoyed via a guided bus tour which gives you the chance to learn as much as possible about Northern Scotland’s administrative and cultural capital.
This gallery is the perfect opportunity to truly understand how deeply entwined the Scottish Highlands are with the rest of the world. You can learn more about its diverse history, culture and also artistic heritage, via a trip to the gallery which is free.
Visiting Scotland truly is a mesmerising experience, and a stay near Inverness offers the perfect chance to immerse yourself in Scottish culture and enjoy a much-needed break away from home. We offer a range of beautifully remote and luxurious accommodation situated just a short drive from Inverness and amidst the natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park. To see if we have anything to offer you, view our range of lodges here.
