Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands

Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is a bustling small city, set  on the banks of the River Ness.   There are many attractions on offer throughout the year and from early spring to late autumn the colourful display of flowers in streets and public places delight the visitors.

Inverness is also a superb base to explore the hills and glens of the Highlands. Loch Ness, famous for its legendary monster, is only a short distance away.

There are many things to do in Inverness.  Here are a few suggestions:

Eating out
Inverness has a great variety of eating places offering the best of Scottish food or international cuisine (including Indian, Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish). Hotel bars and pubs have a fine selection of single malts and locally produced ales.
Many pubs offer life entertainment anything from folk music to rock. 

Shopping
Inverness is well served with shops of all kinds which are easy to find in the heart of the city centre. The Eastgate Shopping Mall is at the top end of the pedestrianised main street. There are many small shops in the indoor Victorian Market.  Entertainment often takes place in Falcon Square, next to the railway station and the modern Eastgate shopping centre.

Eden Court Theatre
The modern recently refurbished and extended building on the river bank boasts two theatres, two cinemas, studios, art gallery, restaurant and bars. Eden Court is very close to the apartment.  After a pleasant ten minute stroll along the river you have reached the theatre and can enjoy the varied and full programme it offers.    

Sport and Outdoor Activities
'Inverness Leisure' offers an excellent range of facilities: 8 lanes competition swimmingpool, a wave pool with exciting flumes, a well equipped gym, climbing wall and sports hall, sauna, massage and aromatherapy; and also an outside running track.
In addition to 'Inverness Leisure' there are several health and fitness clubs in the ciity.
Inverness Tennis & Squash Club, opposite Eden Court Theatre, welcomes visitors.
There are 3 golf courses in Inverness (Inverness Golf Club, Loch Ness Golf Course and Torvean Golf Club) in the immediate vicinity and more in the region.
Next to 'Inverness Leisure' there is the ice rink for curling and skating.

Walks
A pleasant stroll is from the town centre along the river bank to Bellfield Park where you can enjoy the wonderful display of flowers.  Continue following the river upstream and you come to the Ness Islands where you will find tranquility and calm.  Crossing one of the suspension footbridges will take you to Whin and Bught park and you can return on the other side of the river to the town centre.

You can also walk or cycle along the towpath of the Caladonian Canal to Dochfour Locks where canal and river join to enter Loch Dochfour.  Or follow the canal in the opposite direction to Muirton locks and beyond to Clachnaharry where the canal enters the Moray Firth.
The Caledonian Canal is very popular with yachts and barges.  It stretches some 60 miles from Inverness via Loch Ness to Fort William.
 

How to get to Inverness:

Distance from Glasgow by road: 171 miles (275km). 
Distance from Edinburgh 158 miles (253km).
 
Inverness is connected to London by the Caledonian Sleeper, which departs six times a week and by the Highland Chieftain which runs 7 days a week.
Inverness railway station provides services south to Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, east to Aberdeen, north to Thurso and Wick and west to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Inverness Airport is located  8 miles (13 km) east of the city and has scheduled flights across the UK and Republic of Ireland including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and the islands to the north.