Inverness & Loch Ness, scotland
Attractions Guide

Inverness is the largest city of the Scottish Highlands and is surrounded by many great attractions, including the famous Loch Ness to the south and the elegant Dunrobin Castle to the north.

Inverness's top attraction is the riverside Inverness Castle, which you can admire from outside and take in great views of the city from. Just across the River Ness from the castle is the impressive Inverness Cathedral.

Loch Ness becomes the River Ness as it flows through the city of Inverness just before reaching the sea. Along this short river are the small heavily wooded Ness Islands. These islands host scenic hiking trails through the forest along the water.

The Dunrobin Castle is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Inverness but is definitely worth the drive. This fairytale-like castle contains lavish 19th century interiors and extravagant gardens with amazing views of the castle.

Chanonry Point

Much closer to Inverness just a bit to the north is Chanonry Point, a small peninsula with a lighthouse that also serves as an excellent place for dolphin watching.

Northwest of Inverness are the beautiful Rogie Falls, which require only a short 0.5 mile (0.8 km) round-trip walk to view, and includes a nice suspension bridge over the river.

To the northeast of Inverness is the Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the 18th century Jacobite Rising which contains a memorial and museum. Very close by is a small Bronze Age chamber tomb, the Clava Cairns that you might like to see.

Further northeast is the Cawdor Castle, a small medieval estate and gardens you might consider visiting.

Urquhart Castle

Heading south from Inverness you can drive all the way around legendary Loch Ness. The most popular attraction on Loch Ness is the ruins of the 13th century Urquhart Castle located right on the lake. This castle's walls are built atop the rolling green hills along the lake. The castle ruins even host a tower that you can climb and a cafe from which you can enjoy majestic views looking out over Loch Ness.

Fort Augustus, Scotland

Along the southern shore of Loch Ness is the small town of Fort Augustus, a beautiful town with many lovely historic homes and buildings. The scenic Caledonian Canal runs right through the town, along which you'll find many shops, restaurants, and hotels. Between the canal and the River Oich (which flows into Loch Ness) is a long inty island. At the tip of this island a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking Loch Ness, known as the Loch Ness View Point Fort Augustus.

Falls of Foyer

On the opposite (eastern) side of the lake from the Urquhart Castle is the Falls of Foryers waterfall, which is right next to Loch Ness. You can reach the waterfall via a very short walk through lush green forests from the parking lot, with the option of further hiking along the trails to explore this wondrous heavily-wooded area.