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Beauly, Inverness-shire, Beauly, Scottish Highlands, IV4 7BS, United Kingdom
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Location Map of Hootananny's Inverness
Location of Tesco Extra, Inverness Retail Park
Littel Loch Broom (Scotland, U.K.)
The chapel has list of the different regiments
I'm going to be taking a vacation in Scotland this summer, flying into Inverness and then visiting a friend of mine who lives nearby. Before I get to her place, I have 3-4 days to run around on my own. I'll be getting a car for this, and what I'd like to know is: where can I go in this space of time? My friend suggested Lewis, Mull, Islay, or some other island on the west coast. How long will it take me to get over there from Inverness (I'm assuming there are car ferries)? Any other suggestions on where to go? On my previous Scotland trip, I only visited Edinburgh, so I'm excited to be getting up north. I'd like to see some nice scenery.
I do not remember the exact route or the towns, but we drove from Inverness north for a ways then west to the coast, down the coast and then back along Loc Ness. I am sure a good map would indicate a route. It took us all day and we saw some great scenery/castles/towns. At one point on the west coast there were palm trees growing and a clear sky and on the way there we had to drive through a snow squall in the mountains. A great drive all in all. Some of the roads were one lane with turnouts to allow on coming traffic to get by. We were quite a way off the beaten track in some places.
Lucky you! Its a beautiful part of the world up there. How near is your friend to Inverness and how long are you there for - 'cause that should determine what yuo do with those days on your own.
I recently planned a similar trip for myself (which I didn't make, unfortunately). The whole of Loch Ness could take a couple of days of your time, especially if you fancy a bit of hiking (and if you spot the elusive one.....) and which will give you extraordinary scenery. Check out Cromarty and the whole of that headland - lots of wild waters, seals etc. Try out Beauly - bit calmer and pastoral. The drive to Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye - stunning. Personally, if you only have a few days, I wouldn;t go too far north of Inverness - its much more barren. Spectacular yes, but I would leave it for the next trip.
I have provided you with a great web site address - it'll give you a few other tips that the more official sites don;t provide.
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/areainve/
Enjoy
Keith
Why not Sterling Fort to remember Brave Heart!
In my opinion Scotland's best Scenery is in the North West. Inverness is a perfect starting point for this region. In less then 2 hours you can be at the west coast.
For 3-4 days i would suggest: Inverness
Kyle of Lochals
Skye
Along the west coast to Ullapool
Back to Inverness
Especially the Torridon area, between Kyle of Lochalsh and Ullapool is my favourite in Scotland.
If you like to do some hiking this is the place to do it.
Dont waste to much time on Loch Ness. Its Scotland biggest tourist trap.
As they say - the farther west from Inverness, the better :-)
Lewis is the outer Hebrides and a bit far if that is all the time you have, but Mull and Skye are the inner Hebrides and really worth a look-see :-)
If you go to Mull, be sure to try the Tobermory single malt. You won't regret.
Loch Ness is actually a bit boring, but at the south-west end you will find a nice place called Fort Augustus.
If you want to try a real off-the-beaten-path, take the small boat from Mallaig to Inverie. There you will find a small pub "the old Forge". Mainland Britain's Remotest Pub - according to Guiness record book.
Agbat - see if you recognize the palm trees on my Plockton page ;o)
try to get to ullapool at least..... enjoy the real highlands :-)
Maybe add the Glencoe area and beyond, between Fort William and Sterling. I once had a great walk around Balquidder (just off the main road), and I still have Rannoch moor on my list - remote, and only(?) accessible by train or on foot! Saying that.... a train ride can really give you some great scenery, both routes from Ft. William (to Mallaig and the one south) should be a great experience!
On Loch Ness I prefer the southern shore, being less touristic. And off the Inverness-Ullapool route are also some great spots for a (short or longer) walk. From the islands I'd really favour Skye given the short time you have, it can be accessed by bridge since a few years.
Have a great time there!
Wietse
Thanks everyone! I'm especially grateful for those two websites--the Undiscovered Scotland site is perfect for planning, and that mapping one is just great! Wow! It says that the drive between Inverness and Ullapool is about an hour and a half, which seems very reasonable. I think I can do that with no problem. TheDunno's route seems like a good starting point--now I'm off to get the Rough Guide to see what's along the way.
Thanks for the "tourist trap" warning on Loch Ness. I certainly figured as much. I'm not really into that sort of thing, so I will definitely give that a miss. I'd much rather spend my time hiking.
Don't rule out Loch Ness completely! When I listed it, my thoughts were i) East Shore, which is much less touristy and ii) there are fabulous hikes that start/end around the loch. You can simply dump the car and walk upwards and over - away from the crowds but with stunning views over the loch and surrounds. But then, wherever you go in this part of Scotland, you'll get stunning views and great hiking opportunities. And if the weather holds up, the most extraordinary light. Enjoy it!
Keith
I'd like to help if I can - as I live here in Scotland - maybe have a look at my tips - just started but trying to suggest a few special ideas that don't get prominence in guide Books.
Give me a note/mail if you want some advice.
My best wishes.
The weather these past 4 months has been exceptional - long may it continue!!!!
The Black Isle is situated on the opposite side of the Moray Firth and can be reached by a bridge. When we visited Inverness in August 1998 the Black Isle Show took place with exhibitions of farm animals in all shapes and forms. I never knew that sheep came in so many variations. There were also sheep dog trials and a dog show where proud owners paraded their pets.
For some reason this place seems to be almost somewhat of a little, well-kept secret - I have met numerous people who have visited Inverness and most of them had never heard of Leakey's before. So let me tell you about it!
This is Scotland's largest second-hand bookstore. Opened in 1972 and formerly home to St Mary's Gaelic Church (built 1792), the historic premises are a perfect environment to browse through rows of tall wooden shelves stuffed with books on every subject imaginable.
We spent 2 rainy afternoons in Leakey's, trying to choose how much money we'd would and could spend, and on which books exactly. The wood burning oven near the entrance made the whole space even more inviting and cosier, if that's at all possible.
John found collections of all of Shakespeare's works, another on the history of the United Kingdom - leather-bound and over 80 years old! I spotted the entire collection of Jane Austin novels, as well as limited edition travel books from National Geographic... the choices are endless! Here, you can find anything from an antique book worth hundreds of pounds, right down to a tatty and used paperback novel for a couple of pounds that will make an entertaining read on your next train or plane trip.
We finally made our minds up & treated ourselves and purchased one of "the classics": 9 volumes (Folio Press) collectible edition of Sherlock Holmes novels for £130.-
Leakey's also stocks antique (guaranteed over 100 years old) prints, photographs and maps with prices starting from £65.- and up. I spotted a gorgeous antique pencil sketch of the apprentice pillar inside Roslin Chapel... maybe I'll get it next time!
The staff are very helpful and will try to assist if you are looking for something in particular.
Opening Hours: All year, Mon.-Sat. 10:00-17:00.
Throughout the day you can enjoy home-baked scones and various cakes with a lovely coffee or tea selection at reasonable prices.
Lunch menu (daily soup, sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes etc.) is served from 12 onwards.
The cafe seats approx. 40 people and also doubles as a small art gallery for local artists.
"Let books be your dining table,
And you shall be full of delights
Let them be your mattress
And you shall sleep restful nights."
- Author Unknown
"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)
"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
Mark Twain (1835-1910)
"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
P. J. O'Rourke
A real find this one, located near to the Culloden battlefield site. In the care of Historic Scotland, its never busy and it's free!
The Clava Cairns - or more correctly Bulnaraun of Clava - is one of the best preserved Bronze Age burial sites in Scotland. There are three cairns here, two with passage ways aligned to the Midwinter sunset, and all with more subtle features, incorporated to reflect the importance of the South-west horizon.
The site consist of 3 small, relatively well preserved burial chambers, aligned on a North-east to South-west axis. Each cairn consists of a multitude of large water-worn pebbles and boulders, piled in a bun shape, with an outer kerb of larger stones, around which stands a stone circle
I flew into and out of Inverness on my July 2003 trip to the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. I spent just one night in Inverness, an attractive, small city on the banks of the River Ness and at the edge of Moray Firth. Inverness is compact enough to explore almost entirely on foot. It's not bursting with high-profile tourist attractions, but it's a very pleasant place to spend a few days while gathering strength for (or recovering from) the whirlwind of hiking that awaits you in the Highlands.
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Address: Beauly, Inverness-shire, Beauly, Scottish Highlands, IV4 7BS, United Kingdom
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