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Inverness Castle

Inverness Castle: Our most recommended tours and activities

Inverness: Guided Walking Tour with a Local

1. Inverness: Guided Walking Tour with a Local

The capital of the highlands and the main shopping, entertainment and travel destination for Northern Scotland, our charming city will take your breath away! Discover Inverness through a local's eyes on our staple 1.5 hour tour, visiting the main sights of Inverness. Our city will be brought to life as you explore how Inverness has developed, our local history and folklore, and our highland culture. From its humble beginnings as a royal city, to Jacobite risings and castle sieges, to modern life in Inverness today (and of course, the Loch Ness monster!), come and discover why Inverness is officially the happiest city in Scotland. Key sights include: Inverness Castle Inverness Cathedral River Ness Old High Church And many more hidden gems!

Inverness: City Discovery App-Based Self-Guided Audio Tour

2. Inverness: City Discovery App-Based Self-Guided Audio Tour

Join your professional guide, Andrew Baxter, as he takes you on a journey around the capital of the Highlands. You’ll explore key sites like Inverness Cathedral, Ness Island and Inverness Castle before going for a quiet riverside stroll. Along the way, you’ll trace the city’s history back to its origins, and find out about the almost mythical tribe that made Inverness their capital. You’ll follow in the footsteps of a Celtic saint who stopped the Loch Ness Monster too, and discover a strange soothsayer who was obsessed with bridges while you wobble across the river, avoiding the sinister clutches of wee fairies. You’ll stand in a churchyard that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s and his Jacobite supporters marched through to blow up Inverness Castle. (It was in the same churchyard that many of those soldiers were later executed by the British Army.) But this tour is about more than just history. Andrew will also tell you what life is like in modern Inverness and why it is becoming a popular place to live and work. And if you ever wondered what is worn under a Scotsman's kilt, then you might find out the answer to that question too!

Inverness: Private Guided City Walking Tour

3. Inverness: Private Guided City Walking Tour

The capital of the highlands and the main shopping, entertainment and travel destination for Northern Scotland, this charming city will take your breath away! On this 1.5 hour private tour with an expert, local guide, the main sights of Inverness will be brought to life as you explore and learn about how the city has developed. From its humble beginnings as a royal city, to Jacobite risings and castle sieges, to modern life in Inverness today (and of course, the loch ness monster!), come along and discover why Inverness is officially the happiest city in Scotland. Key sights: Inverness Castle Inverness Cathedral Old High Church …and many more hidden gems!

Inverness: Private Dark Side Walking Tour

4. Inverness: Private Dark Side Walking Tour

Join your guide on a journey through the brutal history of the Highland Capital. You’ll learn about beheadings and worse on this 90 minute exploration of the dark past of these now peaceful streets. Ghost sightings not guaranteed, but stories of lost spirits and souls will make you take a second look at this charming city that has seen earthquakes, floods and fires bring devastation long before it became the universally popular destination it is today. Learn about a knight in shining armour and standing stones we can only hope do not fall over, visit the graves of important figures and find hard evidence of their gruesome habits. Your guide will keep you safe as we follow a trail of bones – ideally in the evening, although we will alternate accommodate timing requests where possible. Key sights include: - Inverness Castle & Sieges - Old High Cemetery - Blackfriar's Graveyard - Bell Tower & the Loch Ness Monster - Tomnahurich Cemetery - Cavell Gardens & more!

Inverness: Self-Guided Interactive Treasure Hunt City Game

5. Inverness: Self-Guided Interactive Treasure Hunt City Game

Go Quest Adventures is turning Inverness into an Adventure Playground! Fáilte gu Inbhir Nis (Welcome to Inverness), the capital of the Highlands, home of breath taking landscapes, the beginning of the Great Glen Way & the NC500 and of course, the Loch Ness Monster. Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, it’s a city full of history and offers far more than its size would suggest. Explore the city centre of Inverness and unlock a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles & completing challenges, earning points along the way all self-guided through smartphone app. See the area's highlights, explore it's hidden gems and learn some insider history and fun facts along the way (even locals will discover something new!). As the Quest is self guided you can: * Start your Quest whenever you want, get instant access with nothing to print off from home * Go as fast as you want and try to top the leaderboard, or go at your own pace, stopping for rest breaks along the way. Your Quest will begin in the city centre and wind you through the streets and over the River Ness where you will see ancient sites, learn about the first sightings of the Loch Ness monster, explore fascinating street art and even have a chance of taking part in some highland games! Along the way, you and your team will be involved in solving puzzles and completing challenges as you discover all that makes Inverness one of Scotland’s prized gems. So grab binoculars (to spot Nessie of course!), put on some comfy shoes and get ready to explore the sights, discover hidden gems and ultimately, conquer your Inverness Quest! This is an ideal outdoor activity for couples, families, groups of friends, school groups and can be the perfect team building or corpoorate activity. Customised Quests and group packages are available by emailing hello@goquestadventures.com Get Questing today!

From Aberdeen: Scottish Highlands & Inverness

6. From Aberdeen: Scottish Highlands & Inverness

The Cairngorms The day starts with a winding drive through the Aberdeenshire countryside and the Cairngorms, the UK's largest National Park. With stunning hills and mountains you will see dramatic views and wildlife on our way to our first stop. Corgarff Four specially commissioned sculptural seats by John Kennedy on the infamous Lecht Road offer spectacular views towards Corgarff Castle. There is an existing standing stone sculpture 'A Moment in Time' by Louise Gardiner which was designed to frame telescopic views of the Castle. Pack-horse Bridge The village of Carrbridge is famous for its 18th century pack-horse bridge, the river Dulnain snakes its way through this picturesque village before emptying into the River Spey. Not only is The Old Packhorse Bridge iconic within Carrbridge itself, but it is also one of the most recognisable landmarks in the whole of Cairngorms National Park, so grabbing a photograph or two is an absolute must. Capital City of the Highlands The city of Inverness has plenty to discover. Inverness city centre lies on the east bank of the river and some of the historic civic buildings are found in the centre including the Townhouse, Inverness Castle and several prominent churches. There are staircases and closes which take you into the residential parts of town, the Victorian Shopping Centre as well as East Gate Shopping Centre. You'll find a number of small cafes, pubs and restaurants for you to try. You'll have a some of free time to wander through the city and explore. As part of this tour you will have access to our Self-Guided audio tour of the Highlights of Inverness. This walking tour can be downloaded from our app and you will be sent details and voucher code before your trip. One of the worlds best known Lochs At 56 km2 , Loch Ness is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area after Loch Lomond. Its deepest point is 230 metres. Loch Ness is famous for the sightings of "Nessie", the Loch Ness Monster. Discover one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites The Clava Cairns are about 4,000 years old and were built to house the dead. This is a sacred place in the landscape for millennia, and provides many clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age society. Two parts of the complex, Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava, are open to the public. Culloden Viaduct Designed by Chief Engineer Murdoch Paterson and built by the Highland railway the impressive 29 arches of the Culloden viaduct that stretch over the valley and River Nairn really is a great sight to see on your highland travels. Historic Battle Field On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head in one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Visit the battle field and the memorial to the men who lost their lives during this battle. The grounds are also the burial ground for many, you will see clan markers on the field to commemorate the clans who were present on the day.

North Coast of Scotland (NC500) - Fully-flex Road Trip Plans

7. North Coast of Scotland (NC500) - Fully-flex Road Trip Plans

Embark on the picturesque North of Scotland, based on the well-loved NC500 route, tracing Scotland's north coast from Inverness. Marvel at dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and rugged coastlines. Visit historic gems like Dunrobin Castle and Eilean Donan Castle. Get the best out of your break with our user-friendly, online guide that will make planning a breeze. Simply cherry-pick from the options provided ensuring you won’t miss a thing! Access this North Coast of Scotland road trip on 2 devices (mobile, tablet or desktop) for 12 months to help with planning your break before you travel, as well as on your holiday. Scotland’s North Coast Itinerary • The suggested mapped route is a fully flexible route that begins at Inverness and traces the north coast of Scotland. As a circular route, this is around 500 miles, or conclude by taking a detour from the “official” route with a visit to the Isle of Skye. • This route is around 400 miles with a drive time of around 10 hours and 35 minutes. Depending upon stops, however, you can adjust this to between 3 and 14 nights. Of course, you can tweak this route as much as you like to make your own perfect route. • The North Coast boasts Scotland's breathtaking beauty, featuring striking mountains, wild coastlines, and charming villages. • The North Coast is steeped in history and culture, inviting exploration through its myriad castles, museums, and historical sites. • Engage in a multitude of activities on the North Coast 500, from invigorating hikes and fishing expeditions to captivating wildlife watching and enjoyable rounds of golf. • Look in awe at magnificent sea stacks and bustling sea bird colonies along the coastline, and venture to the Orkney Islands to discover its UNESCO World Heritage sites. Destinations Guide: • Save hours using our inspiration and signposting to plan your perfect North Coast of Scotland (based on the NC500) driving route. • The destination guides cover 18 destination locations and guides on essential places to visit including iconic John O Groats and the Orkney Islands with its UNESCO World Heritage sites • The destination guide includes over 100 attractions, experiences and activities to uncover your own North Scotland coast. The Uncover More map includes: • 60+ Viewpoints • 140+ Places of interest • 25+ Hidden gem • 10+ Wild swim spots The Overnight Stay map includes: • 50+ North Coast of Scotland Campsites • 15+ Motorhome stops & almost wild spots • 55+ Hotels • 125+ B&Bs, guesthouses and lodges

Other Sightseeing Options in Inverness Castle

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What people are saying about Inverness Castle

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 202 reviews

The guide was very knowledgeable and funny, super helpful with restaurant recommendations and just a nice guy overall. We were in the middle of a protest for the independence of Scotland, making the tour even more engaging but causing us to diverge a little bit from our route (but he still covered every place and story he originally planned!)

With a guide through the city of Inverness, you will find beautiful places and stories about the history of Inverness and Scotland. Well worth it! Aileen, our guide, did a fantastic job! She spoke clearly and calmly, so that it was also easy for us to understand.

It was a lovely tour with a very knowledgeable, kind and friendly guide. We absolutely recommend it!

Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. We enjoyed our tour of Inverness!

Pleasant visit, the guide was very good. I highly recommend