Things to do

There are lots of things to do in and around the Highland Capital.  Here are a few suggestions –

• explore-inverness.com – A rally useful site for ideas and suggestions.
• Inverness Botanic Gardens – Near the Bught Park, and about 30 mins’ walk from the apartment. A great wet-weather option, but well worth a visit in any weather. Fabulous collection of tropical plants. There’s also a cosy wee café!
• Cycling – Hire bikes to explore the area or book on to a guided cycle tour. We love to cycle the canal towpath to Dochgarroch for lunch at An Talla. Bikes can be delivered to the apartment by arrangement and tours can be tailored to your preferences. Visit 42Cycling for further information.
• Dolphin Watching – This can be a memorable experience if the dolphins are about and are active.  Good viewing points are Carnac Point (15 minutes’ walk away, where the river meets the Beauly Firth) and Chanonry Point between Fortrose and Rosemarkie across The Kessock Bridge on the Black Isle. There’s a great wee artisan café in Fortrose too – It takes its name from the postcode! – IV10
• City Sightseeing – Bus tours of Inverness – hop on and off
• Dolphin Spirit – For a better chance of seeing the dolphins take a cruise aboard the Dolphin Spirit from Shore Street, Inverness and sail the Moray Firth looking for dolphins. The skipper will know the likely spots on any given day.
• A Jacobite Boat Tour – Take a cruise on Loch Ness or depart from Tomnahurich Bridge through the Caledonian Canal.  Some cruises will allow time ashore at Urquhart Castle and there’s always a chance of spotting Nessie!

Places to Eat

Here are a few that we particularly enjoy. They are all within walking distance of the apartment.

• River House – Just at the end of the street, by the bridge, River House serves the finest seafood and shellfish, sourced locally and beyond.
• Rocpool Restaurant – Fresh tasting food inspired by flavours from around the world, with fine local ingredients at their heart.
• MacGregor’s Bar – Scottish craft beer and spirits with a menu focusing on local Highland ingredients. There’s often live music.
• Café 1 – unique and delicious dishes from the freshest local ingredients
• The Mustard Seed – simple cooking and a warm, friendly atmosphere
• No27 – Bistro-style bar and restaurant.   Emphasis is on fresh locally sourced food with a difference.
• The Kitchen– contemporary cooking, friendly atmosphere, and exceptional views of Inverness Castle.

Whisky

Moray, a short distance east of Inverness has the highest concentration of disyilleries in Scotland, but there are some Highland distilleries a little closer to Inverness

• Glen Ord Distillery – On the edge of the Black Isle and home to the famous Singleton of Glen Ord.
• Tomatin Distillery – Inverness’s closest distillery. The Visitor Centre has tours and an extensive range of whiskies – with tastings for those not driving.
• Glenmorangie – near Tain
• Balblair – location of the cunning whisky theft scene in “The Angel’s Share”.
• A little further afield Moray’s famous Malt Whisky Trail will take you to some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Cragganmore and MacAllan, to name a few.