Five Loch Ness and Inverness Attractions for your Bucket List
Whenever you are planning to visit somewhere new, there is nothing more exciting than writing a bucket list of things to see and do. Inverness and Loch Ness has some fascinating attractions, fun activities and spectacular landscapes to discover and explore.
So to give you bucket list a head start, here are our top five attractions in Loch Ness and Inverness to add to your list:
Urquhart Castle
Sitting on the banks of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Inverness.
Here, you can explore the historic ruins of a castle that has seen centuries of political, religious and regal activity. Perched on a peninsula, Urquhart Castle boasts panoramic views of the vast sparkling loch and lush rolling hills.
Start at the visitor centre where you’ll learn about its turbulent history. Then, take a tour of the stony ruins that date back 1,000 years. Next, enjoy a tasty homemade treat and castle views in the café. Finish by heading to the gift shop to pick up a Scottish souvenir.
Falls of Foyers
The majestic Falls of Foyers look like something out of a fairy-tale and is one of the region’s best places to visit.
Here, the River Foyers drops 140 feet into a deep gorge which then runs into Loch Ness. Start in the car park at the top and follow the trail down to the cascading falls. Then, carry on the path, following it down to the Loch Ness shores and soak up sweeping loch views. After, take in the views while walking back to the café, and enjoy a warm drink or tasty treat.
If water falls are your thing, also be sure to check our Plodda Falls on your trip around the area.
Inverness Botanic Gardens
A little oasis of nature in the city, the Inverness Botanic Gardens is a must for your bucket list. With a tropical house, cactus house, gardens and a great cafe, you can spend as much or as little time exploring what's on offer here. Every season brings a new landscape, new colours and if you're lucky they may have an event to join in.
The gardens are open 7 days a week 10am to 4pm, no booking required and entry assured!
Culloden Battlefield
Learn about one of the biggest events in Scottish History, the Battle of Culloden. The visitor centre at Culloden Battlefield provides and immersive and emotive experience by telling the story of the battle from both sides of the battle lines. You will discover the weapons used, uniforms that were worn and all the details of this bloody massacre.
The battlefield is open for you to walk around all year round and the visitor centre is open all year apart from 23rd December to 2nd January. Check ahead as the centre holds bookable events throughout the year that you may find interesting.
The visitor centre also has a fantastic cafe and gift shop with a wide range of local and Scottish products.
The Victorian Market
In the centre of Inverness you will find the glorious Victorian Market. An undercover market with a huge range of local and independent shops for you to explore and find a perfect holiday gift or something for yourself to take home. Recently opened is the wonderful food court, full of local food and drink businesses, so make sure you have time for lunch or at the very least a coffee and cake!
This selection of 5 attractions is not even the tip of the ice berg as there is so much more to discover, take a look at our things to do map for plenty more ideas around the destination or discover more page for more itinerary ideas and blogs.
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