Inside Inverness – top things to do
Mountains and glens, rivers and lakes… Inverness is the capital of the Highlands, and it’s a perfect place to unplug from modern life. Be inspired with our pick of the shops, sights and grub.
Need inspiration? What to see
Nessie-spotting
Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, you’ll know all about the Loch Ness Monster. And Inverness is where she lives, or so goes the folk tale. People get on the train to Inverness from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the mythical monster.
Flat towers
St Andrew’s Cathedral looks like it really means business: all big, Gothic, square and… pink. It’s distinctive for its flat towers – the 30-metre spires planned for them were shelved at the last-minute. The towers would have looked amazing – but the stained glass and woodcarving make up for it. Worth a wander.
A wee dram
Inverness is close to some of Scotland’s finest whisky distilleries. Glen Ord, to the west of the city, is one of the oldest. Years of know-how have gone into creating its famous single malt. Take a tour to watch the master distillers at work.
Hidden Inverness
Get your fill of local history at the Highland Archive Centre. Explore the records to see how Highland life and folk have changed over the decades. It’s right next door to Whin Park and the River Ness, too.
Retail Therapy
High-street heaven
Eastgate Centre: Find all the usual high-street faves, including Debenhams, Boots, Topshop and Monsoon, at this shopping centre.
Vintage shops, one-off boutiques and homewares
Inverness’s stunning old town is packed with quirky shops, as is the Victorian Market, which has a range of specialist spots including jewellers, a sweet shop and a butcher’s.
Label lovers – designer shopping
Maggie & Suzi boutique on Drummond Street has designer gear without the designer dollar. Rummage through the rails for designer labels, upcycled garb and unique, redesigned one-offs.
Cool kids will find Diesel jeans, Barbour wax jackets and iconic Stussy T-shirts at Attic . Plus pick up a North Face jackets, perfect for looking the part on Highland walks. Find it in Eastgate shopping centre.