Lucky for me, my parents love to travel as much as I do. Our latest family trip was particularly magical: we went to Scotland, and after a few days enjoying Edinburgh, we headed to the Scottish Highlands. Inverness, to be exact, with its riverside charm and easy access to lochs, glens, and centuries-old fortresses. Here’s our Inverness travel guide with everything we loved from our Highlands adventure.
How to Get to Inverness
Inverness has its own airport with direct flights from several UK and European cities, or you can take a train from Edinburgh or Glasgow. The drive up is scenic, winding through genuinely breathtaking countryside. We chose to drive, however, which gave us the freedom to detour whenever a loch or a sheep-dotted hillside caught our eye — and in the Highlands, that’s often.
Where to Stay
Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel and Spa: For a base that’s equal parts history and comfort, we couldn’t have picked a better spot. Set right on the River Ness and just across from Inverness Castle, this casual hotel is budget-friendly, with classic and comfortable rooms, some with views of the castle across the water. We didn’t love the hotel breakfast because the options were limited and the area was crowded, but there are plenty of spots nearby, like Perk Coffee, Birch, and Inverness Roasting Co., and frankly, the location can’t be beat. My sister and I took long walks every morning along the river’s walking path, and it was a sublime way to start the day.
What to Do in Iverness
Inverness is a wonderfully compact and walkable city, but the real Highlands magic lies just outside it — so plan on a rental car or a few well-chosen tours to get out into the glens.
Cawdor Castle: Ok full disclosure: I was an English major and Shakespeare aficionado, so you can imagine my excitement over visiting Cawdor Castle, the fairytale fortress forever linked to Macbeth (even if the real history is a bit more complicated than the play lets on). The castle itself is still a family home, with faded tapestries, crackling fireplaces, and portraits of ancestors staring down at you as you wander the halls. The grounds are just as memorable; wander through the walled garden, the wild garden, and the surrounding woodland trails, and you will feel the spooky Macbeth vibes!
Cairngorms Scenery & Rothiemurchus Estate: For a complete change of pace from castle-hopping, head into the Cairngorms National Park. There, you’ll find the Rothiemurchus Estate, a sprawling stretch of ancient Caledonian pine forest, lochs, and heather-covered hills at the foot of the Cairngorm mountains. This is the Highlands at their wildest and most beautiful — we spent an afternoon walking the trails around Loch an Eilein.
Freedom Cruise & Eilean Donan: One of Scotland’s most iconic images is Eilean Donan Castle, perched on its own little island where three lochs meet, and seeing it in person does not disappoint. We combined the visit with a Freedom Cruise along the way, which let us take in the dramatic scenery of the western Highlands from the water before arriving at the castle itself. Time your visit for late afternoon if you can — the light on the water at that hour is unforgettable.
Loch Ness Lake: Of course, no Highlands trip is complete without a look for Nessie (the famous Loch Ness monster!) herself. We booked a Loch Ness cruise with Jacobite, which took us out onto the loch’s famously dark waters for stunning views of the surrounding hills, and a pass by Urquhart Castle, one of the most photographed ruins in Scotland. The cruise offered great commentary on the loch’s history, folklore, and its curious depths (Loch Ness holds more water than every lake in England and Wales combined). We didn’t spot the monster, but we didn’t really mind.
Jacobite Freedom – Castle and Cruise: If you want to combine your Loch Ness cruise with a proper castle visit, the Jacobite Freedom tour pairs a boat trip on the loch with entry to Urquhart Castle, letting you explore the ruins up close rather than just admiring them from the water. Wandering the grounds of what was once one of Scotland’s largest castles, with sweeping views back out over the loch, was one of the highlights of our whole trip.
Doune Castle: A bit farther afield but well worth the drive, Doune Castle is a must for anyone with even a passing love of film and television — it’s stood in for locations in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Outlander, and Game of Thrones. Even without the pop-culture pedigree, it’s an exceptionally well-preserved medieval castle, and the included audio guide (narrated by Terry Jones, in a nod to its Monty Python fame) is genuinely funny and informative. Climb to the top of the tower for sweeping views over the surrounding countryside.
Where to Eat in Inverness
The White House: This charming, upscale spot has great dishes like burrata with poached plums, risotto, and cauliflower wings, plus plenty of tempting cocktails. In the summer, they have an entire spritz menu; in winter, be sure to sample all the local whiskies they have on hand.
Hou Hou Mei: Hou Hou Mei serves a modern take on Asian cuisine with Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Cantonese influences, and the name fittingly means “very very yummy” in Cantonese. We loved the Singapore noodles, sweet and sour cauliflower, and, for dessert, yuzu cheesecake.
Mumbai Thistle: This casual Indian street- food restaurant brings the flavors of Mumbai and Kerala to the Highland capital. We couldn’t resist the crispy dosas; the Mysore dosa — smeared with red chili and garlic paste and served with medu vada, coconut chutney, and sambar — was a standout. The space is casual and cozy; we loved it all around.
The Verdict
Our getaway to Inverness and the surrounding Highlands was everything we hoped for: fairytale castles, wild glens, brooding lochs, and a genuinely excellent restaurant scene to come home to each night. If you’re craving a trip that feels equal parts historic and epic, this corner of Scotland delivers in spades.
Very helpful tips!