13 Best Things to Do in Inverness

Inverness, situated on Scotland’s northwest coast, is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. There are a plethora of things to do in Inverness, attracting visitors from across the world for its rich Highland history, ancient legends, natural landscapes, quaint towns, medieval ruins, and prehistoric sites.

Its Old Town city center features ancient castles and cathedrals, museums, and an indoor Victorian-era marketplace selling food, clothing, and crafts. The contemporary Inverness Museum & Art Gallery traces local and Highland history. Visitors can explore the moor that hosted one of the bloody battles in Scottish history, or retire to one of the whisky distilleries to learn about the process of single malts.

Here are the 13 best things to do in Inverness.

Inverness at a Glance

Population: 46,870 (2012)
Council area: Highland
Demonym: Invernesian
First settled: Before the 6th century AD
Historic county: Inverness-shire

13 Inverness Museum

History lovers will appreciate the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery in the historic center of the city. Located in the city center at the foot of Castle Hill The museum hosts exhibits on the history, people, environment, archaeology, and culture of the Scottish Highlands. Visitors can see items from Jacobite memorabilia to Highland weapons and bagpipes.

While the museum isn’t very large, it does offer free admission so it’s a nice addition if you’re exploring Castle Hill or looking for something to do on a rainy day.

12 Inverness Cathedral

Also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Inverness Cathedral was opened in 1583 just opposite the River Ness. Its rich history and heritage make it one of the top tourist places to visit in Inverness. This beautiful cathedral features intricate craftsmanship, detailed carvings built in red tarradale stone, beautiful stained-glass windows, and five bays divided by granite.

11 Abertarff House

Built in 1593, Abertarff House is the oldest residential house in Inverness, surviving the Jacobite risings and two world wars.

Originally a townhouse for the Frasers of Lovat family, the 2.5-story house boasts striking crow-stepped gables, known locally as corbie steps.

In the 19th century, the house was acquired by the Commercial Bank of Scotland, and subsequently gifted the house to the National Trust for Scotland in 1963.

10 Leakey’s Bookshop

Leakey’s Bookshop, in the city center, has been a Highlands institution since 1979. The biggest second-hand bookshop in Scotland could easily keep you entertained for an entire afternoon. Based in an 18th-century church complete with stained-glass windows, Leakey’s collection spills out onto two floors. On a cold or rainy day, visitors can curl up to the log fire and enjoy their choice of the thousands of books lining the shelves. The bohemian vibe is irresistible.

9 Inverness Castle

Perched on a cliff overlooking the beautiful River Ness, Inverness Castle is a must-see. This ancient fortress has stood here since 11 AD. Throughout the years, the several-times rebuilt castle has seen many turbulent times. It was rebuilt into an 18th-century citadel, known as Fort George, after the first Jacobite rebellion, and then 10 years later into the neo-Norman style structure visible today, which was also used as a prison.

Today, the castle grounds and the north tower are open to the public, with a scenic viewpoint located in the upper part of the tower. It’s a great place to get a 360-degree view of Inverness and the Highlands beyond.

8 Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Moor was the scene of the turbulent battle of Culloden, which took place on April 16, 1746. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the history of Scotland, said to have been completed in just 40 minutes with a defeat of 1250 Jacobites and 376 soldiers taken as prisoners.

Today, you can explore the moors and take in its picturesque surroundings. Be sure to venture out into the (muddy) bogs to see gravestones set up for every clan – particularly the Fraser clan, now roped off due to the popularity of Jaime Fraser (he did not die in battle) of Outlander fame.

There’s also a well-done visitor center with a rooftop terrace overlooking the battlefield. Here, you can visit its onsite gallery displaying artifacts from the Jacobite rising found in Culloden Moor, including coins, weapons, and clothes. You can also watch a 6-minute film of the battle at its 360° immersion surround cinema, making you feel like the fear as if you are a participant in this part of Scotland’s bleak history.

7 Hootananny

We could not resist a night with friends at Inverness’s most famous nightclub! Hootananny is a boisterous venue specializing in Highland culture via traditional Scottish music.

Enjoying cocktails with new friends Glenn, Mary Lou, and BJ. (not pictured, Kary and Mark)

It has such a lively atmosphere, and the fact that there is a good mix of locals and tourists makes it very appealing

6 Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle is a well-preserved 16th-century tower house located about a 30-minute drive from Inverness. Home to the Brodie clan for over 400 years, the castle is a mix of 16th, 17th, and 19th-century buildings and its different styles of architecture. At the heart of the castle is a 16th-century tower house that was built with defensive needs in mind.

Inside you’ll find an impressive art collection, decorative ceilings, and lovely period furniture. Beautifully landscaped gardens adorn the outside space.

5 Victorian Market

Located in Old Town, the Victorian Market is a picturesque 19th-century covered shopping arcade that houses over 40 small, independent stores selling souvenirs, jewelry, fresh produce, spices, and clothing

The market is known for its ornate Victorian-era roof made from iron and wood and well-preserved clock, which hasn’t stopped ticking since 1890. We escaped into the market during a sudden downpour via the original entrance on Academy Street, which dates back to 1870.

4 Loch Ness

One of the most well-known locations in Scotland, Loch Ness is an iconic freshwater loch that’s rumored to be the home of a mythical creature called Nessie. Shrouded in mystery and legend, sightings of Nessie date back to the 5th century, and many believe she is lurking somewhere in the deep, dark waters.

Loch Ness is just a 30-minute drive by bus or car from Inverness. Hikers can explore 28 miles of tails on the South Loch Ness Trail; you can also take boat cruises on the lake to try and spot Nessie.

3 Urquhart Castle

Medieval Urquhart Castle is one of Scotland’s most fascinating castles. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, the picturesque fortress ruins enjoy the most scenic spot on the bank of Loch Ness. For 1000 years, the castle changed hands between the Scots and the British and was the center of many battles.

You can climb the spiral stairway that leads to the top of Grant Tower to enjoy expansive views of the freshwater loch and glen beyond. The castle also has a stone drawbridge and a dungeon.

2 River Ness

You can’t miss scenic River Ness as it runs along the busy Old Town, the center of action in Inverness. Strolling along the river will take you to various tourist attractions, pubs, Gothic churches, castles, and local markets. Note that it can get very windy along the river, so bring layers to keep warm.

1 Clava Cairns

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of the TV series Outlander, which is why this was my favorite place to visit in Inverness! While the actual standing stones in the series were made out of Styrofoam, magical Clava Cairns was used as the inspiration.

Six miles from Inverness, the mysterious site is an ancient burial ground dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age and has a collection of passage graves, cairns, and enigmatic standing stones believed to have been for astronomical purposes with arrangements appearing to have been aligned to the midwinter sun.

The site is open year-round and free for visitors who can explore the preserved ruins and walk right into the center of two of the passage graves.

A visit to Clava Cairns along with nearby Culloden Battlefield makes a great day trip… or pilgrimage for fellow Outlander fans.

Bonus

Part of our itinerary with Scotland Folk Tours was a private evening concert at The Malt Room, a popular and intimate whisky bar with over 350 single-malt whiskies, local craft beers, and cocktails. Jackson Grimm, our tour leader, played a variety of fun folk songs via guitar, fiddle, and/or vocals.

About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.

Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Scotland Folk Tours during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.