James Roddie hails a Scottish city that’s perfectly placed amidst some of the Highlands’ finest landscapes
INVERNESS hastorankasoneofthemost convenient places in Scotland to base yourself for a weekend in the outdoors. Easily reached by public transport, and perfectly ‘sandwiched’ between some of the Highlands' finest landscapes, Inverness provides relatively quick access to a huge variety of hillwalks, scrambles and backpacking routes. You can be strolling in the pine forests of the Cairngorms within 40 minutes of leaving the city centre by car, or starting the ascent of Liathach or An Teallach in little over an hour.
Inverness is of course inextricably linked with Loch Ness – arguably one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Aside from being the mythical home of a giant water monster, the loch is a fine place for wild swimming and paddleboarding, and a variety of forest trails can be walked with views over the loch. The 119km Great Glen Way is started or finished in Inverness. This is a relatively easy long-distance trail, and some sections are popular as single day hikes. In the opposite direction to Loch Ness, a short drive or bus journey over the Kessock Bridge takes you to the Black Isle. There are some easy but memorable walks for a half-day here. RSPB Fairy Glen contains some charming waterfalls and woodland, and nearby Chanonry Point is one of the best places in the world to watch bottlenose dolphins at close quarters.
Head a little further afield and you will reach the beautiful forested glens of Affric and Strathfarrar. There are numerous Munros here, along with miles of low-level walking and cycling routes. It also doesn’t take long to reach Ben Wyvis or the Fannichs by car, meaning you have a wide variety of options for hillwalking.
The weather is always a bit of a gamble in the north of Scotland, so if it is too wet or windy for the hills, then Inverness itself is an enjoyable place to spend a couple of days. The River Ness and the Caledonian Canal flow through the city, and both are followed by easy walking routes. Regular boat trips run along the canal into Loch Ness, and dolphin-watching boats leave from the harbour during the summer. There is a wide variety of restaurants, bars and accommodation, and the cathedral and museum are both well worth a visit. The city and its surroundings are rich in history and Highland culture, too. Indeed, the nearby Culloden battlefield is one of the UK’s most significant historical sites.
YOUR WEEKEND, SORTED
Clock up 15 miles of classic Scottish hillwalking with a route over four Munros in the Fannichs, and visit one of the most spectacular gorges in Scotland.
An hour of scenic driving from Inverness gets you to the Fannichs – a range of
