With its suspension bridges across
the River Ness and old stone buildings, it is a pretty place which is
well-known for its floral displays (frequently a winner of awards in the Bloom
of Britain competitions). In December 2000, it was one of only 3 towns to be
awarded city status by the Queen.
Walk down along the river banks (in
the direction of the Caledonian Canal) 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 you will find the
Floral Hall - a sub-tropical horticultural extravaganza with small
waterfall, fish and alsorts of plants/trees (open all year round). Small
admission charge. I particularly like the cactus hall - quite a surprise!
Not far from here is the
ice rink
and the Inverness
Leisure centre (with swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, etc.)
Walking up the river in the other direction (towards the harbour) you will see
Ben Wyvis on the skyline (as seen in the photo below).
The Tourist Information Office is
located on Bridge Street up some steps overlooking the road (ramp for disabled
access). This includes a bureau de change, booking office for Caledonian
MacBrayne ferries, gift shop, and accommodation booking service. Plus Internet
access on 2 PC terminals
Inverness has an excellent
Museum and Art
gallery between the castle and the tourist office. Open 9am-5pm,
Monday-Saturday all year. Includes gift shop and coffee shop.
Inverness Public Library is situated near the bus station. The Highlands
and Islands Archivist Robert Steward and Genealogist Alistair MacLeod may be
able to help you with historical or ancestry research but it is advisable to
contact them in advance of your arrival - phone
If you are thinking of moving to
Inverness or the Highland Region - visit the
living/working in
Scotland web page which provides links for finding jobs, houses, etc.
Internet access is available at:
- The Tourist Information Office on Bridge Street (which has access via 2
computers)
-
Inverness Library (free 30-minute slots bookable in advance)
- 'Mailboxes' next to the railway station
- 'Fun Factory' (amusement arcade and Internet cafe) in the alley at the
back of Woolworths
- The laundrette in Young Street (opposite Tesco) across the bridge from
the Castle
- McDonalds (High Street) offers wi-fi access.
Sport and Outdoor Activities
There are plenty of opportunities for sports and outdoor activities in
Inverness and the Highlands (see separate lists for specific regions such as
the Cairngorm
mountains).
OutdoorInverness
is the web site of local activity providers in the Inverness Outdoor Network
and includes details of activities available in the region including walking,
watersports, paintballing, skiing, horse riding, etc.
Also see the
outdoor activity operators list in The Internet Guide to Scotland for more
companies in the area.
Tiso Inverness Outdoor Experience is a huge shop on the Longman estate
which has an 18 ft climbing wall, plus large range of hire equipment and
bikes.
The
port of Inverness
is mainly commercial, but has a small yacht haven. If you need equipment, then
Caley Marina is the
chandlery on Canal Road.
The
Caledonian Canal is very popular with yachts and barges (see
boat trip links). It stretches some 60 miles from Inverness via Loch Ness
to Fort William. You can walk and cycle along the towpath in Inverness
