Indulge in......Local Delights

There is lots to see and do around Inverness so here are the links for you and remember to download your free Local Activity Guide on the right handside of this page.

Family Fun

Fantastic fun for all see Landmark Forest Theme Park. Out on a boat Dolphin spotting on the Moray Firth see Dolphin Cruises. Three really good local visitor attractions House of Beauly, Falls of Shin & Baxters at Fochabers all driving distance. Dramatic highland landscapes visit Cairngorm National Park and Mountain Railway. Or have a go on the Strathspey Steam Railway. For wildlife choose Highland Wildlife Park or the Black Isle Wildlife Park. For outdoor adventures there are Boots & Paddles, Loch Insch and Ace Adventures near Aviemore. Or for a little history see Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore.

Out and About on Loch Ness

There are so many tales about Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster it is up to you to make up your own mind about the legendary Nessie. But there is more to Loch Ness than just Nessie from one end of the Great Glen to the other ending in Fort William. Here are just a few links you can use for your Loch Ness Monster research.

Get started with Visit Lochness then there is the Loch Ness Exhibition to find the magic in the water. Find out about the William Telford Caledonian Canal that connects the Great Glen Waterways from Inverness to Fort William. Take a trip out on the loch with Jacobite Cruises. Visit Urquhart Castle and from there travel onto the village of Fort Augustus. You can make a detour home via Glen Affric and Strathglass for stunning scenery and many walks or keep going all the way through the Great Glen.

For the love of all the Castles

Let's just agree that the Scots loved their Castles and around Inverness and the further afield there are some stunning examples for you to see. Here is a handful to get you started. The closest to the Palace is Cawdor Castle an educational and fun visitor attraction or Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. Then Brodie Castle near Forres or further a field the world famous Eilean Donan Castle on the way to Skye, Dunvegan Castle for a wealth of MacLeod family history and Armadale Castle & Garden for the Clan Donald all on/ near the Isle of Skye. For Royal family history visit Castle Mey on the north coast of Caithness or a little closer Dunrobin Castle home to the Countess of Sutherland. To the east there is Ballindoch Castle in Banffshire and plenty more National Trust and Historic Scotland properties.