Inverness travel guide

Background

One of the old town’s first visitors was that much-travelled cleric, St Columba, who came in AD 565 to confront the Pictish King Brude, whose fortress was reputedly at Craig Phadraig, a few miles west of Inverness. Around the mid-12th century King David I built the original castle and made Inverness a royal burgh on the strength of its growing importance as a trading port. Furs, hides, wool and timber were all exported as far afield as the Mediterranean. The town’s economic prosperity and status as the most important northern outpost, however, made it a prime target for marauding Highland clansmen, and during the Wars of Independence in the 13th century Inverness was also a regular target for both English and Scots armies.

The town’s renaissance came with the completion of the Caledonian Canal and rail links with the south in the 19th century. These improved communications heralded something of a tourist boom amongst the wealthy and fashionable who came north to the Highlands to shoot anything that moved in the name of sport. In the mid-19th century Queen Victoria decided to embrace all things Scottish, which only boosted the town’s popularity. Over recent decades Inverness has grown rapidly, not only as a prime base for visiting tourists, but also as the main administrative and commercial centre for the Highlands. Since being conferred city status in 2000, Inverness has continued to enjoy a boom period, though not always on the pitch of the beloved Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC. In 2006, the 750 seat Ironworks opened its doors, the Highland capital’s first ever purpose-built live concert venue, and in 2008, the beloved Eden Court Theatre reopened after a £23 million refurbishment.

There are numerous events held in and around Inverness throughout the year. These range from a humble pub ceilidh and a food festival to a full-blown Highland Games and the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon (Oct). With 2009 heralded as the Year of Homecoming, drawing the Scottish diaspora to these shores from around the world, the Highlands will stage many diverse events. For details contact the TIC or log onto http://www.eventscotland.org.

Getting around

Inverness town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot, and most of the hotels and guesthouses are within a 15-minute walk of the TIC. Loch Ness is not within walk- able distance, so you’ll either need your own transport, or you’ll have to book a tour.

Bus

Bus timetables and even operators on some routes change frequently. If in any doubt and for the latest information, call Traveline Scotland, T0871-2002233, www.traveline scotland.com, or http://www.rapsons.co.uk.

There are regular daily buses to Glasgow and Edinburgh (via Aviemore), Pitlochry and Perth with Scottish Citylink, T08705- 505050. Change at Perth for Dundee. There are regular daily Citylink buses to Ullapool, connecting with the ferry to Stornoway; also to Fort William and Oban. There are daily Citylink buses to Kyle of Lochalsh, Portree and Uig (connecting with ferries to Tarbert and Lochmaddy), and regular, daily Citylink buses to Fort Augustus via Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Castle (also with Rapsons, T01463-710555), and to Scrabster, for the ferry to St Margaret’s Hope, via Wick and Thurso.

To Ullapool via Dingwall and Braemore Junction, there are 2 buses, Mon-Sat, Highland Country Buses, T01463-710555, in addition to the regular service operated by Citylink. Scotbus, T01463-224410, operate 1 bus daily, Jun-Oct, between Inverness and Inverewe Gardens, via Achnasheen, Kinlochewe, Loch Maree, Gairloch and Poolewe. To Tain there is a daily service with Citylink, but to reach Lairg there’s an irregular service with MacLeods and Royal Mail, T08457-740 740. To Tain and Helsmdale, via Dornoch there are regular daily buses with Citylink. To Lochinver from Ullapool there’s 1 bus, Mon-Sat, operated by Tim Dearman, T01349-883585, that departs Ullapool Ferry Terminal at 1055 and arrives in Lochinver at 1154. This bus continues to Durness via Kylesku and Rhiconich (for Sandwood Bay). Dearman Coaches carry a bike trailer on this route.

Between Applecross and Inverness, Skyeways, T01599-555477, operate a bus Mon, Wed and Sat via Lochcarron and Kishorn that also stops on request (Wed and Sat only) in Shieldaig. To Grantown- on-Spey, daily service with Highland Country Buses, T01463-710555. Stagecoach Inverness T01463-239292, run services to places around Inverness, including Beauly, Muir of Ord and Dingwall. To reach Tomich (and Glen Affric) via Beauly use the Ross Minibuses service, T01463-761250. Fort George (No 11) and Cawdor Castle (No 12) are reached from Inverness with Highland Country Buses, T01463-710555. Stage- coach runs daily services to Aberdeen via Nairn, whilst the battle scene of Culloden and Cawdor Castle can both be reached using a Tourist Trail Rover ticket (from £6) with Highland Country Buses. It’s worth noting that Rapsons, T01463-710555, http://www.rapsons.com, operate a ‘Rack and Ride’ scheme for some cyclists on certain routes including Inverness to Aviemore.

Car hire

Arnold Clark, 47 Harbour Rd and at the airport, T01463-236200 or T0845-6074500; Enterprise, Harbour Rd, T01463-235525; Focus, an office at the airport, T01667-461 212; Turner Hire Drive, office on Lotland St, T01463-716058, T0870-902 0200. Prices vary but expect to pay from £30 per day.

Cycle hire

Highland Cycles, Telford St, T01463-234789. Mon-Sat 0900-1730.

Ferry

For details of connections to Stornoway (Lewis) and Lochmaddy (North Uist), contact CalMac, T0870-565000, T08000- 665000, http://www.calmac.co.uk. For Scrabster to Stromness, Northlink Ferries, T01856- 851144, T08456-000449. For John o’Groat’s to Burwick (Orkney), John o’Groat’s Ferries, T01955-611353, http://www.jogferry.co.uk; or for Gill’s Bay to St Margarets Hope (Orkney) aboard a superfast catamaran (1 hr sailing), Pentland Ferries, T01856-831226, http://www.pentlandferries.co.uk.

Taxi

Tartan Taxis, T01463-719719. Around £14 from the city centre to the airport.

Train

For more information, T0845-7484950. There are direct trains to Aberdeen, Edinburgh (via Aviemore) and Glasgow. There are several daily services to London King’s Cross (via Perth) and Edinburgh, and a Caledonian Sleeper service to London Euston or from London Euston to Fort William via Inverness, ScotRail, T08457-550033, www.firstscot rail.co.uk. There is also a regular service to Wick and Thurso, via Tain, Lairg and Helmsdale. The journey from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (for Skye) is one of the most scenic in Britain. There are 2-3 trains Mon-Sat.

Directory

IInverness

Banks

Most of the major banks can be found in the town centre around Inglis St. Bank of Scotland, opposite the Town House on the High St; Clydesdale, opposite the train station; Lloyds TSB, Church St. Royal Bank, High St.

Currency exchange

Money can be changed at the TIC at 2.5% commission; Thomas Cook, 9-13 Inglis St, T01463-711921, Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Internet

Inverness Library; Mail Box Etc, 24 Station Sq; TIC. Several of the backpacker hostels also provide internet access.

Library

Inverness library, opposite the bus station, with excellent genealogical research unit. Consultations with the resident genealogist cost around £14 per hr, T01463-236463. The library also houses the Highland archives, where you can research the history and culture of the region, Jun-Sep Mon-Fri 1000-1300, 1400-1700, Oct-May 1400-1700.

Medical services

Hospitals: Raigmore Hospital, southeastern outskirts of town near the A9, T01463-704000, for accidents and emergencies. Pharmacies: Boots, 14-16 Queensgate, T01463-225167, Mon-Wed and Fri 0845-1800, Thu 0845-1900, Sat 0830-1800, Sun 1100-1700; also at Eastgate Shopping Centre, Fri-Wed 0900-1730, Thu 0900-1900.