Visit Inverness
Inverness
stands at the northern end of the Great Glen, astride the outlet
of Loch Ness, and has long been known as the capital of the
Highlands. At the very hub of the Highland communications system,
the town makes an ideal touring centre for much of the Highlands.
Hub
of the Highlands
The
strategic importance of this site has been appreciated from
earliest times as testified by the existence in the vicinity
of a variety of ancient sites and monuments. St Columba is said
to have visited Brude, King of the Picts, at his capital beside
the Ness, although the exact site is unsure. By the 11C King
Duncan (c 1010-40), made famous by Shakespeare, had his castle
in the town. The town's very strategic importance was its downfall
in later times when it suffered variously at the hands of the
English, Bruce himself, turbulent Highland clans, the Lord of
the Isles, Mary Queen of Scots' supporters and Jacobites.
The
post-'15 Rising law and order policy for the Highlands enacted
by General Wade included the creation of a citadel, as one of
several strategic strongholds in the Highland fringes. Culloden
and its tragic aftermath was the ultimate action of the '45
Rising. Such a troubled history means that Inverness has few
historic buildings.
The architecture of the town of today is largely that of the
19th Century, one of expansion due in large to Telford's construction
of the Caledonian Canal (1803-22) and the arrival of the railway.
Inverness remains the administrative centre for both the district
and region and in addition has the headquarters of the Highlands
and Islands Development Board. Founded in 1965, this organisation
has as its objective the promotion of the social and economic
development of the aforementioned area through the financing
of industry, tourism, agriculture and fishing. The Northern
Meeting Piping Competitions are held annually in Eden Court
Theatre and are the oldest of all piping contests dating back
to 1781.
Inverness Castle
Several
earlier castles have preceded the present 19th Century building
which serves as court house and administrative offices. The
esplanade with the statue of Flora MacDonald affords a good
view of the Ness and the town.
Museum
and Art Gallery
- Castle Wynd
On
the first floor an imaginative and well presented exhibition
"Inverness. Hub of the Highlands" interprets the rich heritage
of the Highlands. Topics of special local significance range
from the Great Glen, the vitrified fort Craig Phadrig (visible
from the window), the Picts and their surviving works, to the
engineering feats of more recent times, the military roads of
General Wade. Telford's Caledonian Canal and the Kessock Bridge.
The upper floor has exhibits on the Highland way of life and
the silver producing centres of Inverness, Tain and Wick. The
reception area of this level has a show case containing a presentation
pair of Doune pistols by John Murdoch. These guns of exquisite
craftsmanship are dated c 1790.
Town
House
At
the foot of Castle Wynd. This Victorian replacement was the
scene in 1921 of the first ever Cabinet Meeting outside London.
The base of the mercat cross incorporates the Clach-na-Cuddain
or "stone of the tubs" used as a resting place by washerwomen
on their way to and from the Ness. As long as the stone remains
Inverness will continue to flourish.
Abertarff
House
- Church Street
This
renovated 16th Century house serves as the Highland Region Headquarters
for the National Trust for Sscotland.
Kessock
Bridge
Opened
in 1982 this suspension bridge spanning the Beauly Firth carries
the A 9 north to the Black Isle. With a total length of 3,451ft
the bridge's main span has a clearance of 95ft above high water.
There is a good view of Inverness from the bridge, while the
Dolphin and Seal Centre in the car park of the Tourist Information
Centre on the A 9 gives information on the marine life of the
Moray and Beauly Firths. Bottlenose dolphins and upwards of
1,000 seals inhabit these waters: the seals' mating roars and
the mysterious sounds emitted by the dolphins can sometimes
be heard with the aid of the Centre's sophisticated listening
equipment.
Balnain
House
- Huntly Street
This
fine five-bay Georgian house has been tastefully adapted to
introduce visitors to the richness and variety of the music
of the Highlands and Islands. Ingenious audio and visual displays
evoke the long history of this unique musical tradition, from
pre-Christian laments for the dead to the fearsome sound of
the pipes and drums. Visitors can try their skill not only on
the bagpipes, but also on the clarsach, a type of harp.
St
Andrew's Cathedral
Ardross
Street. This imposing and richly decorated neo-Gothic edifice
was built from 1866 to 1869 for the Episcopal diocese of Moray,
Ross and Caithness. The nave piers are monolithic columns of
polished Peterhead granite, the reredos and pulpit of carved
stone. Both the choir screen and rood cross are by Robert Lorimer.
Eden
Court Theatre
- Bishop's Road
The
custom-built leisure centre completed in 1976 comprises a theatre,
conference centre and art gallery.
Tomnahurich Cemetery
From
the 220ft-67m summit there is a good view of Inverness.
Nearby
Avoch. Beauly.
Strathpeffer. Clava
Cairns.
Cromarty. Dingwall.
Culloden. Fortrose.
Return
to sample itinerary
