Where to stay:
In Inverness central, I’d recommend Glenmoriston Town House and about a 35 minutes drive to Loch Ness, I’d highly recommend Foyer’s Lodge on the banks.
In the opposite direction, 30 minutes out of Inverness towards the sea is the Georgian stunner Boath House (very Jane Austen).
And if you’d consider driving out to the idyllic fishing village Ullapool (1h15 from Inverness), The Dipping Lugger is an excellent restaurant with rooms.
Seeing & Doing:
In Inverness
- See the ancient ruins of Urquhart Castle
- You can go for a two-hour stroll starting from Inverness city centre along the banks of the River Ness to Ness Islands. Walk across the footbridges to explore both sides of the riverbank and also spot seals and seabirds between the two road bridges that run through the city. Other things to see include Inverness War Memorial and Inverness Cathedral.
- Rocpool, which is located on the banks of the River Ness. Close to town and popular with locals, a family-owned and run restaurant
Around Loch Ness
- Walk up to the Craigdorrach Inn for dinner and drinks and a spectacular bird’s eye view of the loch.
- The refurbished Loch Ness Centre at Drumnadrochit recounts all the myths, folk tales and stories of sightings that have swirled around the creature for decades. It also operates cruises on the research vessel Deepscan which searches the depths of the loch with world-class sonar equipment. In the absence of monsters, enjoy the dramatic scenery of the loch that has more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined.
- Explore the surrounding glens on guided walks and hike up the mountains with Mountain Tours Scotland or try a paddle with Kayak Loch Ness. Stay at the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel, the former home of an 18th century tea planter, at Drumnadrochit, or the Loch Ness Clansman.
Black Isle
Follow the motorhomes trailing dutifully across the Kessock Bridge on the clogged NC500 driving route, then smugly break east on to the Black Isle where many of the charms of the Highlands await without the traffic. We’re talking beaches, seafood, walks and cute villages. Not actually an island, this peninsula is sandwiched between the firths of Moray and Cromarty – sweeping sea views and big skies abound. Picture postcard Cromarty is awash with lovely Georgian buildings, with EcoVentures skipping you out to meet dolphins, maybe even whales. From Inverness, you’ll be across the Kessock Bridge and on the Black Isle within the hour.
Tomintoul
The Cairngorms (the UK’s largest national park) and Speyside (Scotland’s whisky heartland) are both well known. Wee Tomintoul, on the fringes of both, isn’t. The wide main street in the highest village in the Highlands is trim with stone cottages (and not just holiday homes). The few tourists that come flock to the Tomintoul Distillery north of the village – you should pop in for a tour and for a distillery-only bottle to toast the tour buses when they leave. Then you’ve the superb local walks and bike rides to yourself: there is easy access into the wild and wildly beautiful Glenlivet Estate and a less-trammelled section of the Speyside Way. It’s around an hour’s drive from Inverness to Tomintoul. Just outside the village, the Stronavaich guest house reclines with a stomping full Scottish breakfast to set you up for sightseeing.
Kintail
Lots of cars drive through the glowering peaks of Kintail, but few stop in this landscape devoid of the imprint of man; just glad to reach safety. But the mountains of Kintail quite simply offer some of the best hiking in Scotland. Your Abacus guide will check your skills and fitness beforehand so when you arrive it’s straight off into the hills for an epic day that will burn long in your soul. You’ll see more deer than people. If you miss company wander with the Jacobite ghosts down at the site of the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719. Just over an hour drive from Inverness. You’ve the ideal adventure base at the revamped Cluanie Inn.