Things to Do Near Inverness

Things to Do Near Inverness

Often our Scottish Tourer customers head up the A9 and it’s no wonder. There is so much to see and do in this area. 

•    The battle of Culloden took place on 16th April 1746, it was here that the Jacobite Rising came to its end. Around 1600 men lost their lives, 1500 of these were Jacobite’s. You can see the weapons, artefacts and explore letters written at the time. The visitors centre is a lovely place to visit and being such a pivotal day in Scottish History it is worth adding to your list whilst on holiday in the area. You can gain a family ticket for the day and their café is open 9-5pm.  
•    Clava Cairns often evokes a lot of emotions in people given it’s the remains of an ancient graveyard located above the river Nairn. The Cairns are around 4000 years old and were built to house those who had died. The remains we see now are what is left alongside the remains of a medieval chapel. They are free to access but they ask for a small donation to keep the site preserved for others to visit.    
•    Fort George is a great history lesson for all ages. It was designed by William Skinner and took 22 years to finish. It has served the British Army for over 200 years. You can walk around the main rampart which encloses an area equivalent to 5 football pitches. Visit the Highlanders museum to explore the history, the barracks give a good insight into how the soldiers lived, you will even find a dog graveyard here for the mascots and officers dogs. 
•    Bowhunter Archery Woodland Adventures is located just outside Inverness around a 20minute drive where they offer a variety of different activities such as axe throwing, bushcraft, archery, longbow and they even throw Minecraft themed parties. These are available for beginners, adults and older children, some activities are for age 7 others need to be 12 so be sure to check which your able to do. 
•    Whiteness Beach or the Secret Beach is a lovely sandy stretch by Nairn Golf Club. It’s very sheltered and it isn’t quite as accessible as the other areas of the beach. The point and bothy are only accessible at low tide and we warn you to be prepared for this and check before you try and access these parts. If you’re after a more accessible beach then head over to the east or west beaches and the splashpad. 
•    Walking is another fantastic option in and around Nairn such as the River Nairn Circuit at around 3 miles which is manageable by children and adults, this could be cycled and is buggy friendly. Nairn to Cawdor is more of a challenge at around 5.5 miles but is a relatively nice walk too. And then there are the beaches which are a joy to walk along.  
•    If you find yourself on a rainy day, Nairn Leisure Centre is there to be able to have a swim or for the adults there is a steam room, gym with built in iPod docking stations and built in heart rate monitors. 
•    If Golfing is your thing, then the Nairn Dunbar Golf Club is a lovely course with some outstanding views. The pro shop is a great spot if you fancy some new clubs, accessories or simply a browse. 
•    Cawdor Castle and Gardens is a 15th Century castle and was home to the Thane of Cawdor which if you’re a Shakespeare fan will know that this was mentioned in Macbeth. Here you can steep yourself in history and view some of the most beautiful walled gardens and wild gardens. 
•    Inverness Botanic Gardens is a subtropical paradise in Northern Scotland. They grow an amazing amount and variety of plants, with ponds, waterfalls and sitting by the Caledonian Canal it’s a prime spot for some walking to. 
•    Munlochy Clootie Well, these are quite a unique Celtic tradition of hanging scraps of fabric from trees. You will see this in spots around Inverness but the main place we have seen them is Munlochy. 
 
Inverness may be seen just as a city but there is so much on offer here to visit, see and do. There are days out that will cost you money but there are always options for a free activity day out. The world is literally your oyster in Inverness so step out and explore. Be sure to feedback to us on any other finds you have.