Martin’s guidebook
Sightseeing
A cruise on Loch Ness is only a short drive away. You could start from the canal in Inverness, which is only a ten minute drive along the distributor road from the flat. There's a new carpark very close to where the cruise sets off, or you could start the trip a bit further on by continuing the drive down Loch Ness to the Clansman Hotel as the cruises also leave from the Clansman harbour. Some of the tours also include entry to Urquhart Castle. By bus, the flat entrance road has a bus stop where you could hop on and get into the main bus station in Inverness. from there it's a 15-20 min ride to The Clansman.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Loch Ness by Jacobite - Clansman Harbour
A cruise on Loch Ness is only a short drive away. You could start from the canal in Inverness, which is only a ten minute drive along the distributor road from the flat. There's a new carpark very close to where the cruise sets off, or you could start the trip a bit further on by continuing the drive down Loch Ness to the Clansman Hotel as the cruises also leave from the Clansman harbour. Some of the tours also include entry to Urquhart Castle. By bus, the flat entrance road has a bus stop where you could hop on and get into the main bus station in Inverness. from there it's a 15-20 min ride to The Clansman.
Cairngorm Mountain Carpark
Ullapool - 58 miles from Inverness. The journey by car takes about 1hr 15mins. Ullapool is a small town over on the west coast with plenty eatieries, Bars and a supermarket. It's a popular destination for tourists as it's a good stop off before heading up north to the likes of the summer isles, the mountains of Assynt and beyond. It's also worth fuelling up here. There are various other fuel stops (including a 24hr one at Scourie) along with small stores to grab essentials but to head out of Ullapool and leave a large supermarket behind, be prepared to reach Thurso before you see the next one. Thurso is quite some trek from Ullapool!
52 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ullapool
Ullapool - 58 miles from Inverness. The journey by car takes about 1hr 15mins. Ullapool is a small town over on the west coast with plenty eatieries, Bars and a supermarket. It's a popular destination for tourists as it's a good stop off before heading up north to the likes of the summer isles, the mountains of Assynt and beyond. It's also worth fuelling up here. There are various other fuel stops (including a 24hr one at Scourie) along with small stores to grab essentials but to head out of Ullapool and leave a large supermarket behind, be prepared to reach Thurso before you see the next one. Thurso is quite some trek from Ullapool!
snowsports
If you're up in the Highlands for a bit of snow sports, The Lecht is a small ski area that can often boast a decent covering of snow while also being one of the ski areas not closed due to being stormbound. The runs are short but if the lifts are running and the snow is there.. it's a good alternative if you have travelled a long way for a slide!
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lecht Ski Centre
If you're up in the Highlands for a bit of snow sports, The Lecht is a small ski area that can often boast a decent covering of snow while also being one of the ski areas not closed due to being stormbound. The runs are short but if the lifts are running and the snow is there.. it's a good alternative if you have travelled a long way for a slide!
Aviemore is the main village if you plan on a bit of outdoor adventure. A 30 min drive from Inverness with Loch Morlich and the forests of Rothiemurchus only ten mins away. The Cairngorm ski area is a 15 min drive from Aviemore with access to the Cairngorm plateau starting from the carpark at 2000ft. There's a cafe at the carpark with a shop Inc snowboard/ski hire.
Another favourite place for wildlife - The rare Snow Buntings can often be seen flying (and eating!) around the carpark in the winter months, right up as high as the cairns on the mountain tops. Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare can also be seen high up. Further back down the mountain as you return to the Glenmore/Rothiemurchus forests, you might even be lucky enough to spot a Capercaillie.
64 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Aviemore
Aviemore is the main village if you plan on a bit of outdoor adventure. A 30 min drive from Inverness with Loch Morlich and the forests of Rothiemurchus only ten mins away. The Cairngorm ski area is a 15 min drive from Aviemore with access to the Cairngorm plateau starting from the carpark at 2000ft. There's a cafe at the carpark with a shop Inc snowboard/ski hire.
Another favourite place for wildlife - The rare Snow Buntings can often be seen flying (and eating!) around the carpark in the winter months, right up as high as the cairns on the mountain tops. Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare can also be seen high up. Further back down the mountain as you return to the Glenmore/Rothiemurchus forests, you might even be lucky enough to spot a Capercaillie.
Aonach Mor ski resort is approx 1.5 hours from Inverness. The drive takes you down Loch Ness, through the great glen passing through Drumnadrochit, Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus and then onto the scenic final stretch before Nevis Range comes into view. Before arriving in Spean Bridge, the Commando Memorial is a popular stop just off the road which can be seen on the right with views over to Ben Nevis.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Aonach Mor
Aonach Mor ski resort is approx 1.5 hours from Inverness. The drive takes you down Loch Ness, through the great glen passing through Drumnadrochit, Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus and then onto the scenic final stretch before Nevis Range comes into view. Before arriving in Spean Bridge, the Commando Memorial is a popular stop just off the road which can be seen on the right with views over to Ben Nevis.
beach
For Invernessians, Nairn beach is our 'local beach'. It's the easiest to get to and has miles of lovely clean beaches either side of the town. To the east of the harbour, the beach stretches out and meets up with Findhorn Bay. On low tide, the sand bar east of Nairn can be a great get-away and a super walk along a very often deserted beach.
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Playa de Nairn
For Invernessians, Nairn beach is our 'local beach'. It's the easiest to get to and has miles of lovely clean beaches either side of the town. To the east of the harbour, the beach stretches out and meets up with Findhorn Bay. On low tide, the sand bar east of Nairn can be a great get-away and a super walk along a very often deserted beach.
A bit further along from Nairn lies Findhorn. A great wee village with a large bay and miles of beach linking up with Burghhead and Hopeman.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Findhorn Beach
North ShoreA bit further along from Nairn lies Findhorn. A great wee village with a large bay and miles of beach linking up with Burghhead and Hopeman.
Another small village on the east coast with great beaches that links up with Hopeman. A great walking/cycling path between both villages offers great views out to sea along with great rock formations and hidden coves. The path is wide and completely away from traffic and very peaceful.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Burghead
Another small village on the east coast with great beaches that links up with Hopeman. A great walking/cycling path between both villages offers great views out to sea along with great rock formations and hidden coves. The path is wide and completely away from traffic and very peaceful.
A great beach just 25 mins drive from Inverness. The beach stretches from Rosemarkie around to Chanonry Point. The beach closer to Rosemarkie is a reasonably safe beach compared to Nairn/Lossiemouth. It's also popular with open water swimmers and paddleboarders. *further along at Chanonry - swimming/letting dogs in for a paddle is not advised as the hidden current can pull you further offshore. It can also be seen as dolphin disturbance*.
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rosemarkie Beach
Kincurdie DriveA great beach just 25 mins drive from Inverness. The beach stretches from Rosemarkie around to Chanonry Point. The beach closer to Rosemarkie is a reasonably safe beach compared to Nairn/Lossiemouth. It's also popular with open water swimmers and paddleboarders. *further along at Chanonry - swimming/letting dogs in for a paddle is not advised as the hidden current can pull you further offshore. It can also be seen as dolphin disturbance*.
From Inverness, Durness on the north coast and Smoo Cave are approx 2hr 20mins by car. Balnakeil beach at Durness along with Sangobeg are stunning. There are other close by gems too, just keep your eye open as you drive east from Durness. Water temperatures up here are completely different to what you will find at the likes of Lossiemouth over on the east coast. The gulf stream keeps the temps up nicely into aug/sept. Even through the winter, the temps for surfers/swimmers etc are bearable compared to the waters over on the east coast.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cueva de Smoo
SmooFrom Inverness, Durness on the north coast and Smoo Cave are approx 2hr 20mins by car. Balnakeil beach at Durness along with Sangobeg are stunning. There are other close by gems too, just keep your eye open as you drive east from Durness. Water temperatures up here are completely different to what you will find at the likes of Lossiemouth over on the east coast. The gulf stream keeps the temps up nicely into aug/sept. Even through the winter, the temps for surfers/swimmers etc are bearable compared to the waters over on the east coast.
One of the finest beaches in the UK. a walk out to the headland (Faraid Head) will give you views out to sea from the cliffs where marine life and birds can be seen from above. It's quite a walk, 4 miles each way.
Balnakeil Beach
One of the finest beaches in the UK. a walk out to the headland (Faraid Head) will give you views out to sea from the cliffs where marine life and birds can be seen from above. It's quite a walk, 4 miles each way.
Chanonry Point is a world famous Bottlenose Dolphin spotting area just a few minutes drive from Fortrose/Rosemarkie. Dolphins can be seen hunting for salmon through the months of April -August close in to the point. The chase, attack and catch is spectacular as they often bring the large fish back in close to the point to digest. Throughout the year the dolphins can make appearances past the point but are less likely to be as active. Porpoise, common dolphins, seals and many types of seabirds including Arctic Skua can be seen passing the point. Even the odd whale has been seen in recent years.
The carpark can often be very busy in the summer months so to grab a spot, an hour and a half before low tide would hopefully enable this! parking in town at Rosemarkie would mean a 20 min walk along the beach as it wraps around towards the lighthouse at Chanonry Point, or from Fortrose, a similar distance walk along the golf course looking over the Moray Firth towards Inverness is another option. Boat trips from Inverness are another option. A trip out on 'Mischief' can be booked which would take you from Inverness, out past Chanonry Point, taking in the shores along the Eathie coastline along to The Sutors of Cromarty.
A bit further on from Rosemarkie and Fortrose is Cromarty. A popular short trip for a bite to eat with a coffee at The Slaughterhouse at the ferry along with various other great stops all within a short walking distance for good food. Dolphin trips can start from here too - Eco Adventures trips leave the Cromarty Firth and head further out east to where it might be more likely to spot whales and be in with more of a chance of spotting a pod of dolphins. Definitely worth considering if you want to be in with a chance of spotting dolphins. Cromarty is approx 40 mins from the flat, Fortrose and Rosemarkie approx 25 mins.
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rosemarkie Beach
Kincurdie DriveChanonry Point is a world famous Bottlenose Dolphin spotting area just a few minutes drive from Fortrose/Rosemarkie. Dolphins can be seen hunting for salmon through the months of April -August close in to the point. The chase, attack and catch is spectacular as they often bring the large fish back in close to the point to digest. Throughout the year the dolphins can make appearances past the point but are less likely to be as active. Porpoise, common dolphins, seals and many types of seabirds including Arctic Skua can be seen passing the point. Even the odd whale has been seen in recent years.
The carpark can often be very busy in the summer months so to grab a spot, an hour and a half before low tide would hopefully enable this! parking in town at Rosemarkie would mean a 20 min walk along the beach as it wraps around towards the lighthouse at Chanonry Point, or from Fortrose, a similar distance walk along the golf course looking over the Moray Firth towards Inverness is another option. Boat trips from Inverness are another option. A trip out on 'Mischief' can be booked which would take you from Inverness, out past Chanonry Point, taking in the shores along the Eathie coastline along to The Sutors of Cromarty.
A bit further on from Rosemarkie and Fortrose is Cromarty. A popular short trip for a bite to eat with a coffee at The Slaughterhouse at the ferry along with various other great stops all within a short walking distance for good food. Dolphin trips can start from here too - Eco Adventures trips leave the Cromarty Firth and head further out east to where it might be more likely to spot whales and be in with more of a chance of spotting a pod of dolphins. Definitely worth considering if you want to be in with a chance of spotting dolphins. Cromarty is approx 40 mins from the flat, Fortrose and Rosemarkie approx 25 mins.