Places to Visit in Inverness Inverness Castle was built on the site of an earlier fortress in 1835 and sits on a low cliff overlooking the river. Today it houses the Sheriff's Court. Saint Andrew's Cathedral sits on the riverside almost opposite the castle. It has no spires as the funds ran out before they could be completed. The font is a copy of Thorwalden's font in Copenhagen Cathedral. Look out for the Russian gold icons. The teashop in the old schoolhouse is open from Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 3.30pm in the summer months. Eden Court (theatre, cinema, restaurant and bar) overlooks the river near the cathedral.

Walk along the river banks from the castle and you'll find the Ness Islands where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the shops. Cross the river on the little bridges and you can visit Bught Park. Close by between the ice rink and the sports centre is the Floral Hall - a sub-tropical horticultural extravaganza with small waterfall, fish and alsorts of plants/trees (open all year round). Continue into the children's play area, miniature train and boating lake in Whin Park. If you walk further you can go along the picturesque Caledonian Canal heading towards Loch Ness.

Inverness Area Loch Ness is one of the most popular places to visit in this part of the Highlands. Take a guided coach tour, drive around the loch yourself or go on a boat trip from Inverness, Drumnadrochit or Fort Augustus. The atmospheric ruins of Urquhart Castle are open to the public all year and there are several other local attractions including the visitors centres about Loch Ness and its famous monster. For a scenic drive, don't forget the less-travelled southern shore of the loch or head west into the beautiful scenery of Glen Affric.

There's lots more to explore around Inverness including Culloden Battlefield, the Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Brodie Castle, Fort George, Moniack Wineries, the Black Isle, Aviemore, the Cairngorm mountains and historic towns such as Nairn, Elgin, Beauly, Dingwall and Strathpeffer.

Inverness is an excellent base for touring if you wish to go further afield - Fort William, the Isle of Skye, Wester Ross and Orkney are all accessible on day trips. See our Transport & Travel Page for info on guided coach tours if you don't have a car.

Local events in Inverness

In July and August, there are various events for tourists in Inverness city. These include Highland Dancers on a mini-stage in High Street on Thursday evenings 6pm - 7pm.
You are also likely to see a piper or two busking in the streets of Inverness and sometimes other musical entertainment around the Eastgate shopping centre.

Look out for Scottish Showtime - a live professional performance of traditional Scottish music and dance suitable for adults & children. Venue: The Ramada Hotel in Church Street, Inverness. Dates: Monday - Thursday (8.30pm - 10.30pm) in June, July, and August. Also first week in September. Book your tickets by phone +44(0)1349 830 930 or via their web site. Or from the Inverness Tourist Information Centre or at the show on the night of the performance. This popular show has been running for 35 years.

The Farmers' Market is usually held on the first Saturday of each month, with stalls of local produce (meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese, homebaking) in the Eastgate pedestrian area of Inverness city centre.

Events in 2008:

• 25 May: The Nairnshire Challenge - across Nairnshire on foot and by bike in aid of local charities
• 7 - 8 June: Rockness
• 7 - 14 June: Nairn Book and Arts Festival
• 19 - 20 July: Inverness Highland Games in Bught Park. Tickets can be booked online. Web site includes video and photos from previous Games, as well as electronic postcards. A DVD is available.
  The games are preceded on Saturday morning by the March of the Highlanders (sponsored walk from Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to the Inverness Highland Games) in aid of the Highland Hospice.
• 28 July - 2 August: Inverness Tattoo
• 6 - 7 August: Black Isle Show at Mannsfield Showground, Muir of Ord (tel: 01463 870870). This is the largest agricultural show in the North of Scotland. It attracts over 2,000 cattle, horse and sheep entries, more than 300 trade stands and over 25,000 visitors to the show each year. There is plenty to see and do, craft fair, food fair, 'On the Farm' exhibition for the kids, agricultural stands, vintage rally and sheep shearing.
• First Friday and Saturday in August: Highland Field Sports Fair at Moy Hall (between Aviemore and Inverness). Tel: 01463 232618.
• 2 - 10 August: Nairn Jazz Festival
• 8 - 9 August: Tartan Heart Festival on the Belladrum Estate, by Beauly. Family-orientated outdoor festival of rock, country, blues and world music.
• second Saturday in August - Highland Games at Strathpeffer.
• mid August - The Marymas Fair is a traditional festival which was held every year from 1590 until 1850 on the feast day of Mary (August 15), and was then revived in 1986. It begins with a horse and carriage procession from the cathedral through the city centre with participants in medieval style costumes. Later the Marymas Queen is crowned in the presence of her four ladies-in-waiting. The fair itself in the Northern Meeting Park features craft stalls, entertainment, etc. Quite a colourful day full of events! (Telephone 01463 715 760 for details). It is usually held on the nearest Saturday to 15 August.
• Late August - The Great River Ness Raft Race. This popular event was first staged in Inverness in 1978 and has since become a firm favourite with both locals and visitors. Organised by CHILDREN 1ST - Tel: 01463 794477.
• Late August - Glenurquhart Highland Games at Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness
• September : Highland Feast / Food & Drink Festival - events every weekend in September
• 5 - 13 September: Blas Traditional Music Festival (various venues around the Highlands)
• 13 September: First Monster - 120k team duathlon race around the shores of Loch Ness to raise money for Save the Children
• late September - early October: Highland Archaeology Fortnight - events and seminars throughout the region.
• 30 September - 3 October: Inverness Book Festival
• 5 October: Loch Ness Marathon plus 5K and 10K River Ness fun runs.
• mid October: Blazin' in Beauly (music festival)
• 5 November - Grand Bonfire and Fireworks Display at Bught Park
• November: Inverness Film Festival.

Detailed local events listings can be viewed online via HI-ARTS.