Inverness

📌 City in Highland
★★★

With a population of around 50,000, Inverness is Scotland’s smallest and northernmost city. Situated on a sparkling Highland river (with resident otters) spanned by seven bridges, its fortunate coastal position in the lee of major hill ranges affords it a surprisingly benign climate given its 57° latitude. Much of the city centre is unremarkable, but as the largest settlement for miles around, it stands head and shoulders above nearby competition in terms of shopping, eating out, accommodation and public transport options. Local tourist attractions merit at least a day: highlights include the excellent museum, the panorama from Inverness Castle (closed for redevelopment until approx. 2025), a stroll along the River Ness – and Culloden battlefield just beyond the city boundary. What makes Inverness special, however, is its unrivalled access to much of northern Scotland. Loch Ness is only ten miles away, and most parts of the mainland north and west of here are reachable by car in under a couple of hours.

🌍 Location

📌 Highland. The railway station in the city centre is at:

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 668454

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.479303,-4.224092

🚶 All the city’s main attractions are within easy walking distance of the centre. Take a bus for Culloden Battlefield.

✈️🚆🚌 Inverness has good rail and coach connections with the rest of Scotland, as well as several local bus routes. The small airport has flights from the Northern Isles, Western Isles and beyond. The city is also a hub for guided tour operators.

🚗 Most city centre parking has a charge, but there are free spots further out.

<1 mi away

>> Inverness Cathedral ★★

>> Inverness Museum and Art Gallery ★★★

>> Leakey’s Bookshop ★★

>> Ness Islands ★★

>> St Mary’s Catholic Church (Inverness) ★★

<3 mi away

>> Walk: Fine firth views from Craig Phadrig ★★★ (2 mi ←)

>> Walk: Ord Hill – by the bridge to the Black Isle ★★★ (2 mi ↑)