Have Fun Whatever the Weather
Sometimes in Inverness and Loch Ness, we see a few rainy days and not always the best weather, but that isn’t stopping us from having fun! Our region offers a huge choice of indoor attractions and activities you can enjoy in all weathers!
Castles and Museums
The first indoor activity that comes to mind for a rainy day is visiting a castle or museum.
They sometimes have the added bonus of offering a coffee shop where you can enjoy a nice coffee or hot chocolate to warm up! A good start is a visit to the famous Urquhart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness. Even though Urquhart Castle is a ruin and has no roof, there is a fascinating visitor centre where you can stay dry and find out all about the castle’s history. If history is your thing, head out to Ardersier to explore Fort George and the Highlanders Museum or take an emotive journey around the Culloden visitor centre and learn all about the Jacobite uprising and IF the weather is kind, there is the battlefield as well.
If the holiday budget is already a bit stretched, try Inverness Museum and Art Gallery in the city centre. Entry is free and you can spend time exploring the history of the Highlands.
A wet day should not put you off one of the main attractions of the area – Loch Ness! You can sit in the heated saloon of one of the cruise boats on the Loch, enjoy a coffee and look out for Nessie without getting your waterproofs out.
While you’re in the area, take some time to visit Drumnadrochit and The Loch Ness Centre or Nessieland where you can find out more about the Nessie legend – needless to say there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a coffee or a wander round the village shops and Loch Ness Visitor Hub to keep the chill out!
Head over to our Things To Do page to find out where you can catch a Loch Ness cruise and find out more about Nessie!
Whisky Distillery
Another fantastic way to spend a rainy day is to visit one of the area’s whisky distilleries and find out how the famous drink is made. After all, without rain there would be no water to make whisky!
In Inverness city centre you will find Uilebheist, the newly opened distillery and brewery, you can take a tour and sample some of the fantastic collection of beers and drams on offer.
Singleton Glen Ord Distillery, near Beauly, offer informative guided tours and delicious whisky tastings in their wonderful new visitor centre. They also have some tasty food platters to compliment their drams for you to try.
Tomatin Distillery, just south of Inverness is another distillery experience close to Inverness and Loch Ness if you are not looking to travel far.
Take a trip to the theatre or cinema
Why not see a show or movie at Eden Court? This is the main theatre and entertainment venue in the Highlands of Scotland. Set on the riverside in Inverness, Eden Court has two theatres and two cinemas. Plus a cafe-bar and restaurant. Check out what’s on at Eden Court.
If you're a movie buff and love all the blockbusters, you can also take a visit to the Vue Cinema at the Inverness retail park slightly East of Inverness.
Retail Therapy
Searching for that perfect gift, something to remind you of your holiday or just simply to get yourself a treat, Inverness has a great range of shops on the High street and not forgetting the Eastgate shopping centre . Rain never stops shopping!
The Victorian Market with it's newly refurbished food hall is a wonderful undercover place to explore, with a great selection of independant and unique shops on offer
If you want to find out more about shopping in Inverness and Loch Ness, take a look at our shop till you drop blog for all the shopping top tips!
Let off steam!
We are lucky to have some great leisure facilities including the Inverness Leisure complex with Swimming pool, water slides and gym. A great way to burn off some energy but you will get wet, just not outside! You could also check out the public skating times at the Inverness Ice centre.
Inverness and Loch Ness Indoor Activities
One thing is for certain, we cannot control the weather! But with these great indoor activity ideas we think we have proved that you can still have a fun packed time on a rainy day in Inverness and Loch Ness no matter what. Not forgetting that you can also wrap up warm and enjoy the outdoors too! Have you heard the old saying ... there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.
For more ideas on activities both indoors and out, go to our Discovery Hub where you will find inspiration for across the whole destination.