Inverness

The ‘Capital of the Highlands’, Inverness is far from a quaint little Highland community. Ancient Inverness appears to have been frequent target for marauding clansmen in Scotland’s warlike past – so that little of great historic interest has survived. Instead, Inverness is a thriving and well-resourced small city with all of the characteristic of major centres further south, such as out of town shopping centres, major chain stores, industrial estates and a busy airport. The city naturally serves a very large but sparsely populated hinterland in the Northern Highlands. It also has plenty of accommodation for the visitors who throng the streets in the main season.

At the same time, Inverness, strung out along the River Ness, is an attractive place with easy access to a wide range of popular places for visitors – notably Loch Ness and its attractions, as well as Culloden Battlefield, with Cawdor Castle and Fort George also within easy reach. Back in the city, Eden Court Theatre is a focus for its cultural life while its museum tells the story of the community here on its important location – a natural route centre at the head of the Great Glen.