Inverness is the capital city of the Highlands and a great destination to head to as part of a campervan or motorhome holiday in Scotland. The city has many attractions to offer, including history, culture, arts, whisky and landscapes.
Inverness: Getting there
Inverness is located in the Scottish Highlands on the northeast coast, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It takes around three hours to drive by road from Glasgow.
A motorhome is the ideal transport for visiting this Scottish destination and will give you a great view of the ever-changing landscapes, from the lower hills and mountains of central Scotland to the majestic Highlands.
Why not take a few days to reach Inverness and explore other fascinating towns and cities en route, including Stirling, Perth and Aviemore? However, if you are short of time, it’s easily possible to complete the drive in less than half a day.
Where to stay
There are a surprising number of options for overnighting in a motorhome or campervan in and around the city of Inverness. Search on-line and book early if you plan to holiday in Scotland at high season (spring and summer).
6 of the best things to do in Inverness
1 History highlights
The Old Town of Inverness city features a number of historic sites, including the 19th-century Inverness Cathedral, the Old High Church, which mostly dates to the 18th century, as well an indoor Victorian Market, at Queensgate, selling food, clothing and crafts.
The modern Inverness Museum and Art Gallery offers visitors the opportunity to discover more about local and Highland history.
2 Arts and culture
Check out events at Eden Court Inverness, which is a large theatre, cinema and arts venue, while you are in the city.
As well as the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery in Inverness, there are several more art galleries in the city including Castle Gallery, Scottish Flair Art Gallery and Inchmore Gallery.
3 Whisky wonders
A stay in Inverness is not complete without a visit to at least one of the local distilleries.
Just north of the city is the village of Muir of Ord, which is home to Glen Ord Distillery.
A short distance east of Inverness is an area called Speyside, where you can visit a string Highland whisky distilleries, such as Glenfiddich and Balvenie.
Tomatin Distillery is 16 miles south of the city, and offers the rare opportunity to fill a bottle directly from a cask. (Booking in advance is recommended.)
Whisky fans might also like to check out whisky tasting sessions in Inverness at the Highland Malt Whisky Experience and pop along to The Malt Room, a a whisky bar located in Inverness.
If you happen to be visiting the city in April, there is an Inverness Whisky and Gin festival Big Day out.
4 Outdoor life
Inverness is very well located for seeing some of the great landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Head in any direction from the city to be treated to views of spectacular mountains, glorious glens, lochs and the coast.
The beautiful mountain area of Torridon is a drive of about 1.5 hours to the west, for example.
If you like to take a stroll amid nature, Inverness Botanic Gardens is well worth a visit.
The Great Glen Way is a waymaked route between Fort William and Inverness and is perfect for walking and cycling. You can access it to the south of the city where you will enjoy a path along the banks of the Caledonian Canal and further south, Loch Ness.
For other ideas see Highlands walks at Walk Highlands.
5 Great legends
Loch ness is famous for the Loch Ness Monster. It’s also the location of historic Urquhart Castle. Head south on a 30-minute drive from the city to Drumnadrochit to visit the castle and the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition.
6 Great drives
Inverness is also the gateway to the North-Coast 500, a driving route around north-west scotland and likened to America’s Route 66. Read about 11 highlights of the North Coast 500.
Hire a campervan in Scotland
Open Road Scotland has a range of campervans and motorhomes to hire in Scotland and conveniently located close to Glasgow Airport in Central Scotland. Contact them for winter availability and prices.