Authentic Experiences in Inverness and Loch Ness
Enjoy a break filled with authentic experiences by choosing to visit Inverness and Loch Ness. Start planning your visit and soak up as much of the local life, traditions and culture as possible. As soon as you arrive you can experience a taste of authentic Scotland however long your stay is.
Highland Hospitality
Highlanders are known world wide for their warm welcome and full-hearted hospitality. If you choose to stay at a local Bed and Breakfast you can enjoy every creature comfort and learn about the local area from the people who know it best. As popular visitor destinations, there are a range different places to stay in Loch Ness and Inverness depending on your needs.
Even when on a walk you can rest assured if you smile and say hello to a passer-by you are very likely to get a smile and hello back, locals still enjoy the pleasantries of passing the time of day with visitors.
Food and Drink
As the capital of the Highlands, Inverness is a meeting place for all the world-class produce from the surrounding countryside. That means there are no shortages of delicious places to eat in Inverness that allow you to enjoy the real taste of Scotland. Once dish not to miss is tasty cranachan. This is a tradition Scottish desert that is full of cream, oats and raspberries with a touch of whisky to add a mouth-watering kick.
Why not take the opportunity to try the country’s most famous dish: Haggis! You can go for the full authentic haggis, neeps and tatties... not forgetting the whisky sauce. And everyone can give it a try as there are many haggis alternatives for different dietary requirements.
If you are looking for a true Highland food and drink experience you must try the “Living the Dram” or “Ale and hearty” nights at the Downright Gabbler in Beauly. A wonderful evening of tales, traditions and fine food and drink.
Ceilidh the night away
Connecting food and drink with a great Highland night out simply goes hand in hand with traditional music and a good ceilidh. There is nothing that gets the toe tapping more than hearing the energetic sounds of traditional Scottish live music. Usually a fiddle, accordion, pipe, flute, guitar, piano or mixture of them all you can hear coming out of Inverness pubs like MacGregors or Hootanannys. And before the night is over it’s almost certain that someone will have got up to dance.
Whisky History
Ok, so we are talking whisky again but a huge part of Scotland’s history and heritage revolves around this magical spirit. Taking a tour of a whisky distillery is a great way to immerse yourself into its story. Glen Ord distillery close to Inverness provides tours that give you an insight into the skill, passion and care behind the making of the dram.
If it is a tasting you are after, there are many bars in Inverness that will give you a fabulous Whisky experience and help you find your perfect dram, a few to name are
Kilts, Tartans and clansman.
There are not many things more traditionally Scottish than a kilt or tartan, the Highland House of Fraser in Inverness has a visitor centre dedicated to the history of the kilt and the craft of kiltmaking.
Campbells of Beauly is also an experience in itself, a traditional emporium and family run country tailor and outfitters. Campbell’s make bespoke garments on site and specialise in sporting tweeds and Highland dress and are often referred to as The Highland Tweed House.
A visit to the clansman centre in Fort Augustus will transport you back in time to the 17th century. This 19th century school house has been recreated into a Highland turf house and authentically dressed clansman will give you a taster of the past
Buy Local
Supporting local businesses is always good, but it also means you get to try things you can’t find elsewhere. For example, local bakers Harry Gows make a cake called the dream ring and it is kind of a local delicacy. A light and fluffy almost bread like ring filled with fresh cream and topped with white sugary icing, a sweet toothed persons heaven.
For something more traditional you have the Scottish empire biscuit, a cute shortbread double biscuit sandwiched together with jam and topped with icing and a cherry, we can promise you are not likely to stop at just one.
The last tasty treat we will mention before we stop talking only about food is tablet. A traditional Scottish sweet very similar to fudge. You will sometimes get this on the side of your coffee as a treat but if you are a fudge fan, you will absolutely enjoy a taste of the Scottish version.
Highland Games
Tossing the caber and the Scots hammer throw are two of the traditional Highland sports you would expect to see if you attended a Highland games event. These events also have livestock competitions, bagpipes, Highland dancing and lots of family fun for everyone to enjoy. Depending on groups size you can create your own Highland Games event with companies like In your element.
Nature
Although there are lots of lively, fun activities and things to do in Inverness and Loch Ness, we must not over look the one thing we have in abundance and that is miles and miles of beautiful landscapes and nature. There is something incredibly special about the authentic Highland landscapes. Mountains, Lochs, glens, waterfalls, wildlife… so very simple yet so very unique.
Céad Míle Fáilte
All we can say is come and experience Inverness and Loch Ness the authentic way, Céad Míle Fáilte – in Gaelic this means a hundred thousand welcomes and they are awaiting you.
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