Overlooked Treasure - Inverness, the Capital of the Scottish Highlands
🚣♀️Inverness is a city in northern Scotland and the capital of the Scottish Highlands. The city is located at the mouth of the River Ness and is one of the northernmost cities in the UK.
Whether you're visiting the Highlands, passing through the Isle of Skye, or starting the NC500, Inverness is often just a stopover. However, this treasure city has many places worth spending at least half a day exploring.
✅ River Ness
Inverness is a great city for city walks, especially along the River Ness, where most of the charming buildings are located. The large deciduous trees turn yellow in autumn, and the ground is covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves 🍂. It's a pleasure to slowly enjoy the river view.
✅ Inverness Castle 🏰
The iconic building of the capital, Inverness, is located on a cliff in the city center, overlooking the River Ness. Although the castle itself is mainly used as a courthouse and is not fully open to the public, the brick-red building is very eye-catching at the highest point.
When I arrived, the exterior was under renovation, so I didn't go up to visit. I heard that the North Tower Observation Deck is open for a fee.
✅ Inverness Cathedral
This is the northernmost Anglican cathedral in the UK, known for its exquisite architecture and stained glass windows.
✅ Leakey's Bookshop
The largest second-hand bookstore in Scotland, the interior is not luxurious but very distinctive. It can be a highlight of the itinerary, and book lovers may find their favorite book.
✅ Victoria Market
The market is small, with many delicacies and souvenirs. When I arrived, it was already closed at 5 pm. If you arrive early, you can explore what's good to eat and buy.
✅ Ness Islands
A little far from the city center, this peaceful and beautiful park is located on a small island in the middle of the river, where locals walk their dogs 🚶🏻. It's a great place to watch the sunset on a nice day.
✅ Dolphin Watching 🐬
In the north of Inverness, this place is famous for the frequent appearance of bottlenose dolphins. I canceled some attractions on the Isle of Skye to see dolphins and signed up for a local wildlife watching tour.
Unfortunately, I didn't see any dolphins during the 2-hour trip, but I saw many sea lions, which was a bit disappointing.