Inverness!

[Doglass]

Suggestions sought please! If you were spending 3 or 4 days based in Inverness in May, what would be your must go places or things to do please? I would like to include a circular walk somewhere. I will have a car. TIA

Aviemore. Culloden. Landmark if you have kids to tire out.

Thanks @JohnLapsleyParlabane I should have said, no kids, just 2 middle aged friends!

Drive over to the Black Isle. Go and see the dolphins at Chanonry Point.

Fort Augustus, Aviemore/Loch Morlich

Spend a day in Findhorn.

Take the train journey to Kyle of Lochalsh. Absolutely stunning scenery.

Oooh, here are my top places:

Circular walks located at either Craig Pharaig or Ord Hill, both just outside Inverness on either side of the firth

As PP said, Chanonary Point - go an hour after low tide for the best chance of seeing dolphins

Head up to Loch Fleet near the Mound to see loads of seals. Combine with lunch in Dornoch at Milk and Honey. Nice bookshop and other shops to poke about too as well as walks on the beach. Look out for jelly and star fish. Dunrobin castle is also good.

Cawdor Castle is worth a visit. Lovely walks in the woods too.

Falls of Foyers is fab and you can combine with a drive all the way around Loch Ness.

If you want to eat out, be sure to book. Any time from April onwards tables at restaurants are hard to get.

forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/rogie-falls not a long walk but a lovely circular. You can extend it by parking further down the river in believe.

Highland folk museum is well worth a visit and not too far.

Cromarty is lovely and has some great coffee shops, and a walk up the hill to look at the pirate (not really) graveyard is interesting cemeteryclub.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/the-pirates-graveyard/

There are some nice cruises that go from the canal out on to the Loch along to Glenurquhart Castle. There are nice walks around the canal also, and round the Ness Islands (you can stop for coffee at Eden Court or any of the bistros along the river). The Victorian Market has a great food hall.

The live music scene is brilliant and you can find somebody playing live every night of the week if you know where to head ( The Gellions, The Highlander, Johnny Foxes, Macgregors, Sound Bar, upstairs at The Market Bar for a unique experience if you're feeling brave after 10pm!).

The Storehouse at Foulis is nice for a visit.

Afternoon tea at Loch Ness House Hotel.

A walk round Loch Morlich, Aviemore direction.

Wow thanks everyone so much!!! Some great suggestions for me to check out further!

On an evening walk down Ness Islands in Inverness itself. There is some nice restaurants to enjoy dinner and drinks overlooking the river but you do need to book in advance normally.

Culloden battlefield is interesting if you enjoy history. The Inverness museum is free in town to visit and worth a look.

Loch Ness is lovely for a walk around and if you drive up to the very top of Milton of leys in Inverness you get a lovely view of the black isle and Moray Firth.

Down by the canal is nice to walk especially around Merkinch nature reserve but please only go in daylight as the tide can come in fast (you get plenty of daylight hours in May).

I personally prefer the east coast so up towards Dornoch as it's quieter but the views are also stunning on the west coast. The Black isle is lovely to drive around and Fortrose beach is nice. You often see dolphins at Channory point. Ord Hill has great views though is a little rough terrain wise so bring good walking trainers.

Highland folk museum is great if your driving up you can stop on route.

Aviemore is nice but very touristy. Loch Morlich is gorgeous but so busy on a hot day.

The midges are fierce in May in areas near trees so maybe bring some Avon skin so soft original spray as they dislike the smell.

Where in the city are you staying?

We liked the Black Isle and Cromarty Firth too, particularly Hugh Miller's birthplace cottage, museum and garden. Fascinating guy, especially if you like geology. 40 mins drive from Inverness. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace

I remember liking Dornoch too.

Fort Augustus- beautiful little village with a series of canal locks that lead down to Loch Ness. You can get a boat out on Loch Ness and learn so much. A few nice pubs there, bike hire and a beautiful old abbey that’s now a hotel.
Along the banks of Loch Ness is Urquhart Castle- a must see! It’s a lovely drive from Inverness to Fort Augustus and then Fort William. We went in autumn and the colour was just stunning.

All of the above, plus recommend if you have time trying this cafe
https://www.cafeartysans.org.uk
Close to the bus station, it's a social enterprise supporting young people. And very good scones - as a baker myself I'm hard to please, but theirs were delicious!

Urquhart castle... not Glenurquhart! My mistake - apologies.

www.walkhighlands.co.uk is good for walking routes

Close to Inverness is Reelig Glen, renowned for its very tall trees. Lovely easy woodland walk to find the allegedly tallest tree in the UK (Dughall Mor). Well worth a visit.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/sep/05/reelig-glen-inverness-dughall-mor