Inverness and the Loch Ness Area

The Highlands of Scotland offer some of the most fantastic scenery on the British Isles, jagged mountain peaks, vast lochs and diverse wildlife among the many attractions. Although the Highlands region is the biggest in Scotland it is also the most sparsely populated with winding rounds going around the mountains and plenty of untouched scenery to admire.

The best place to base yourself for exploring this region is Inverness, it is the only city in the Highlands region and as such offers a great range of both accommodation and activities. There are many types of accommodation available from budget £12 a night backpackers to luxury hotels. The mid range hotels are probably the most favourable accommodation with quite reasonable rates and city centre locations available.

When you have found a place to stay then it is time to explore this wonderful region. The main attraction is probably Loch Ness, one of the most visited areas in Britain. The loch actually holds more water than all the lakes and rivers in England and Wales combined. It runs from just outside of Inverness to the small village of Fort Augustus.

The best way to explore Loch Ness is to go on one of the boat trips, Jacobite Cruises run a variety of trips which depart daily from Inverness. At the Fort Augustus there is a Loch Ness cruise available on a sonar equipped boat so you can hunt for Nessie while enjoying the magnificent scenery around you.

A drive around Loch Ness can also be an enjoyable experience with a number of small towns to discover along the way. At Drumnadrochit you will find a Loch Ness Visitor centre where you can learn all about the history of Loch Ness and the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Fort Augustus is one of the busier towns in the region and there you will find the Caledonian Canal and a vast range of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.

If you don’t have a car then you have a couple of options for getting around the area, CityLink runs the only bus service which goes from Inverness to Fort William and stops at the small villages and towns along the way. If you are a little fitter and have more time then the Great Glen Way walk runs from Fort William to Inverness and vice versa and it take around 5 days to walk the full 73 miles.

When you have finished exploring the Loch Ness area there is also plenty to see and do in Inverness, which is one of Scotland’s fastest growing cities. Inverness castle offers a great panoramic view of the city and is a good place to start. There is also a wide range of shops main found along the high street and in the Eastgate Shopping centre. In the summer months there is a beautiful walk around the River Ness which shows of some of the beautiful surrounding landscape of the city.

The best way to explore Inverness is on foot, the city is quite condensed so seeing the main attractions is usually only a few minutes walk. There are some excellent transport links available in Inverness with both the railway and bus station in the city center only a few hundred meters from each other. For there you can get transport to towns and villages in the surrounding area or to other cities around Scotland. If you are wishing to visit Edinburgh or Glasgow then be warned that it is around a 3hr30min trip one way on the train and the bus takes around the same time.

Accommodation in Inverness
Inverness Accommodation and Information