LEISURE

For most visitors to the Highlands, first on the itinerary is its capital city. Inverness is an excellent starting point and base from which to explore the wider Highlands and Islands, with all major transport links to and from the city converging here.

Of course, the Highland capital should not be overlooked as a destination in its own right.
The city centre has undergone a dramatic makeover in recent years with an extension to the Eastgate centre, the new Falcon Square, the current Streetscape project within the traditional city centre, and ever-growing retail parks on the outskirts to rival any major city for retail therapy.

Visitors will find all their High Street favourites here, along with designer boutiques and speciality shops in the pretty Victorian Market.
Inverness is a diner's dream with everything from exquisite fine dining to the best local bakeries to be found anywhere.

Many restaurants, cafés and pubs have outdoor seating which makes the most of impressive views overlooking the river, castle or the spectacular mountain backdrop.
Among Inverness's parks and gardens, the tropical gardens under glass in the Bught Floral Hall are well worth a visit, and the picturesque walks along the riverside and Ness Islands provide a welcome respite from the bustling city centre.
The city has a rich history and visitors can find out more about its past by visiting Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which displays the heritage of the area from archaeology to natural history. A new Archive centre has been built at Bught Park.

Inverness Castle, dating from the 1830s, is a castellated, Gothic-style building in red sandstone and the setting of the Castle Garrison Encounter, a costume re-enactment of life for an 18th century soldier.
Minutes from Inverness, the National Trust for Scotland's award winning, visitor centre at Culloden captures the story of the defeat of the Jacobite forces led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, by the Government troops under the Duke of Cumberland, in 1746.

A brand new, award winning interactive visitor centre was opened at the battlefield during 2008.

The impressive Clava Cairns, which date from around 3000BC, make another interesting excursion; and wildlife lovers can enjoy dolphin cruises in the Moray Firth or a boat trip through the Caledonian Canal.
Only 13 miles from Inverness lives the Highlands' most famous – and elusive – resident. Loch Ness and its camera-shy monster are renowned the world over.
Every year thousands of tourists descend on the small village of Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness, hoping to steal a glimpse of Nessie.
The reporting of something unusual and unexplained in Loch Ness began to interest the world's media in the 1930s and it has been an attraction for tourists, explorers and would-be Nessie-hunters ever since.
The sightings over the years form the core of the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre and the Original Loch Ness Monster Visitor Centre, both at Drumnadrochit. The village has wide-ranging souvenir shopping including kilts and whisky.
Just below Drumnadrochit is Urquhart Castle with its visitor centre telling the story of this important Great Glen fortress.

Lying 12 miles west of Inverness, the village of Beauly has a number of distinguishing features.
Its 13th century priory – now a ruin – lies at the heart of the village, as does the pretty Square. Visitors will find an eclectic mix of shops from a designer boutique and modern deli/café to a local bakery and gift shop.
Beauly is the northern gateway to beautiful Strathglass. Visitors have a choice of glens to explore, including Cannich and Affric, both of which lead into higher mountains, and a multitude of "Munro's". 
Another option is to discover the quaint village of Tomich and make a trip to the spectacular nearby Plodda Falls.

Glen Affric has a reputation for being the most beautiful glen in Scotland and is also a National Nature Reserve. It has waterfalls and a choice of high-level day-long routes for experienced hillwalkers, including Carn Eige, the highest summit north of the Great Glen.
For those looking to enjoy the countryside at a less strenuous pace there are also lower-level waymarked walks through the glen which explore the native pinewoods for which the area is noted.
In the opposite direction, a short drive east from Inverness is the seaside town of Nairn which boasts a spectacular beach, two championship golf courses, a modern swimming pool and leisure park.

Nearby, Fort George is Europe's best-preserved 18th century military fortification and a direct result of the Battle of Culloden nearby.
Cawdor Castle is also close and has a beautiful garden with a choice of paths leading through the estate.
For nature lovers there is also a good path network leading out from the town up the River Nairn, connecting with Cawdor, and eastwards into the Culbin Forest and the RSPB reserve of Culbin Sands.

CRUISES

Inverness is keen to attract more cruise liners and fulfil its undoubted potential as an excellent staging post for visitors.
Smaller vessels can be accommodated alongside at the harbour itself.
Larger vessels are normally anchored a short distance outside the port, and visitors landed by tender (with always the possibility of meeting some dolphins en route).
Inverness Harbour Trust is keen to capitalise on the increasing cruise market and with its recent expansion of port facilities has increased berthing facilities for cruise liners.
Inverness welcomes cruise passengers and looks forward to building on successful previous visits.

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