What To Do in Inverness

Inverness Castles & Historical Sites

Inverness Castle is right in the heart of Inverness city overlooking the River Ness. Anyone visiting Inverness will see it dominating the River Ness which it has guarded for centuries. Today it is the Court house and is not open to the public.

As Inverness is the highland capital and the highland clans were notorious for their warlike character, you would expect there to be a number of castles in addition to Inverness Castle in the area. You will not be disappointed.

This page provides you with details on the castles around Inverness, so take your time and decide which ones you would like to visit, adding each to "Your Trip" planner. Remember you cannot visit Inverness Castle as it is not open to the public.

Fortrose Cathedral

Fortrose Cathedral

13th century Cathedral at Fortrose, today two sections still stand, the chapter house and the nave's south aisle, maintained by Historic Scotland.

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Beauly Priory Ruin

Beauly Priory Ruin

Beauly Priory founded in 1230, became a Cistercian home about 1510. The North transept rebuilt in 1901 as a mausoleum for the Mackenzie Family.

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Wardlaw Mausoleum

Wardlaw Mausoleum

Built in 1634, it is the burial place of at least four Lovat or Fraser clan chiefs on a commanding site overlooking the mouth of the River Beauly.

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Corrimony Chambered Cairn

Corrimony Chambered Cairn

Built 4,000 years ago by neolithic farmers for collective burials - the first people to domesticate animals, till the land and clear the forests.

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Sir Alexander MacKenzie

Sir Alexander MacKenzie

The first European to cross North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, he discovered and charted Canada’s longest river 2,500 miles.

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Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle is a fine 16th-century tower house, central keep with two 5-storey towers, guardroom and secret passages to help the occupants escape.

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Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus at the bottom end of Loch Ness, exactly mid-way along the Great Glen, has a 5 locks taking boats from Loch Ness up into the canal above.

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