Inverness On a Budget
Inverness, Scotland
Sights
Inverness is in the perfect location, right at the beginning of the Highlands, and offers fantastic sights of natural wonders and architecture steeped in history. North of the city center is Fort George, an 18th century army barrack that combines incredible architecture with the stunning beauty of the Moray Firth around it. Head south to the Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the Jacobite Rising, which holds great importance to the Scottish people. Further south past the battlefield is Loch Ness with the impressive ruins of the 13th century Urquhart Castle on its shores. You can take a wander along the shores or even catch a boat ride from the Loch Ness visitors center to the castle. Inside the city center of Inverness, you'll find Inverness Castle and Inverness Cathedral, both of which date back to the mid 1800's and feature stunning red brick architecture.Neighborhoods
The major area of interest for tourists in Inverness is the city center near the castle and River Ness, as the rest of the city is far more residential. The city center is also where you'll find the majority of accommodation and restaurants. North of the city is Fort William, an old army base and beautiful viewpoint. Just across the Moray Firth from Fort William is Chanonry Point and Lighthouse where you'll get great views of the Firth, a chance at seeing dolphins, and an opportunity to relax on the pebble beach there. South of Inverness is Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, the area is famous for its supposed sea monster, Nessie.Activities
One of the best ways to explore the city is on foot by taking one of the walking trails. The River Ness and Caledonian Canal path takes you along the riverbank by the castle, then over a bridge to the sea wall where you may even see some Moray Firth Dolphins when the tides change. For a better chance at seeing the dolphins, head to Chanonry Point where you'll find a delightful pebble beach that is perfect for dolphin spotting. Get out of the city center and go for a small hike to Plodda Falls, a gorgeous waterfall hidden in the forest. If you happen to be around in July, you may see the annual Inverness Highland Games where locals compete in traditional Scottish sports that are thousands of years old.Food and Dining
Inverness has a wealth of options when it comes to restaurants, ranging from upscale seafood on the River Ness to delicious Thai and Indian food. If you're looking for traditional Scottish fare, head to one of the many pubs where you'll find lamb and potatoes as the stars of the menu. Enjoy freshly made whisky at the Glen Ord Distillery and the Tomatin Distillery, both of which you can tour and taste some of their finest whiskies.Transportation
Inverness has a domestic airport that accepts flights from around the UK and offers a bus service to take from the airport into the city center. You can also get into Inverness via train or bus from Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is fairly easy to get around the city thanks to the easy to use bus service and the commuter train, the Invernet. Inverness is a very walkable city as well, especially in the central area near the castle. If you want to go further outside of the city to some more major Highland destinations, you can book a coach with one of the many tour companies in the area.Related:
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.