Inverness is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Scotland.  It is known as 'The Capital of the Highlands' and acts as a great base for exploring the north of the country.  The city of Inverness is compact and easy to explore on foot and although there are many places to visit within Inverness itself, some of the well known Inverness tourist attractions like Culloden and Loch Ness lie outside the centre. 

You can travel to the city by bus or train and many attractions are walkable from the city centre but a car is advisable if you want to explore the outlying sites mentioned in this list. Inverness even has its own airport and the city acts as a gateway to countless Highland adventures whatever direction you decide to travel in once you get there.

My recommended things to do in and near to Inverness includes a mix of some of the top things to do but also some of the lesser known gems as I always aim to showcase a different side to the popular tourist places in Scotland.

I've also included a range of sight-seeing options that are within a 20 minute drive and I've marked all of the places mentioned in this handy interactive map to help you plan your itinerary.

All of the following suggestions can easily be reached on from Inverness city centre

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

I personally think a visit to Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is one of the best things to do in Inverness.  The museum covers an extensive history of the area and is a great starting point for those interested in learning more about the different historical periods of the Scottish Highlands.

On the ground floor you will find exhibits dating back billions of years in the geology section and some amazing Pictish and Iron Age finds.  Medieval Inverness, Gaelic culture and Highland wildlife are all covered on this floor too.

On the first floor the story of the Jacobites, Highland dress and weaponry all feature and there is even an opportunity to dress up if you feel inclined!  Other exhibits include field sports, Inverness silver, Scottish identity, the Clearances and life in 20th century Inverness.

The museum is free to visit and is also home to a shop and cafe,

Castle Viewpoint

If you follow my blog, you may have noticed that I have been working with Destination Orkney to try out a range of 1 day themed itineraries which are part of their 'See You at The Weekend' campaign. They are perfect for any visitor but are particularly suited to those short on time or looking for things to do outside the busy summer season. 

I have already covered a wide variety of topics including coastal walks, Viking history, wartime sites, world heritage attractions and locally made goods.  You can find all these blog posts on my Orkney Islands page.

For this itinerary, I headed to the historic town of Stromness which is always a delight to visit.  I don't think I'll ever get tired of wandering the characterful streets and taking in all the quaint and quirky details. 

Stromness is a town that has been shaped by the sea, with maritime history running through the veins of its winding, narrow streets.  Sitting on the fringes of a natural harbour used by Picts and Vikings, increased trade with the New World played a large part in its rapid growth as a town in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Wars between Britain and France made the route around the north of Scotland more attractive than the English Channel which resulted in Stromness becoming a popular stopping off point on voyages. 

The Hudson's Bay Company would regularly stop en-route to and from Canada.  Many Orcadians were recruited by them in Stromness and at one point Orcadians made up approx. 3/4 of their workforce in Canada.  The town has also seen whaling fleets, herring fleets and even the Royal Navy Grand Fleet which was based in Scapa Flow during the First World War.

While various industries have come and gone, the surrounding waters have continued to be a valuable asset to the local economy.  Today Stromness is at the cutting edge of marine renewables and is home to The European Marine Energy Centre which supports developers of wave and tidal energy devices and is the only centre of its kind in the world.

However, the town has managed to retain its historic character and in some places away from the cars, it is easy to feel like you have stepped back in time.  

This suggested day out which starts at the historic harbour area is the perfect introduction to the sea-faring history and contemporary businesses that make Stromness so unique.  ​

Recently I went on a trip around Wester Ross, Skye, Harris and Lewis as part of a partnership to promote the #WestCoastWaters Campaign.  The aim of my trip was firstly to explore the road less travelled and I previously wrote a blog post with details of how I tried to achieve this on a west coast Scotland road trip.

The second aim was to find ways of slowing down and immersing my senses in the coastal landscape.  This involved trying out a number of water and coastal themed activities including sea kayaking, pony trekking, boat trips, wildlife watching, coastal walks and eating ALL the seafood!

I've put together a list of 15 activities that are readily available in the areas I visited and but they are also available throughout the west coast in general.  It is not a definitive list and I've added a few more options at the bottom but these suggestions should be enough to give you plenty of ideas to create your own unique Scottish west coast adventure.

These are my recommendations and you can just skip to the sections you are most interested in to find out more details on the activities and providers in Wester Ross, Skye, Lewis and Harris.

Taking a trip to one of Scotland's stunning west coast beaches is the easiest way for anyone to enjoy the coast and it is absolutely free.  Whether you want to feel the sand between your toes, build a castle, do some beach-combing or even go for a paddle, the areas featured in this blog have some of the best beaches in Scotland to choose from.  The best part - they are never crowded!

These are some of my favourites beaches in the area but there are plenty more to choose from -

• In Wester Ross you will find beautiful sandy bays at Achmelvich, Achnahaird, Mellon Udrigle, Big Sands and Applecross.

 

• In Skye head to Claigan Coral Beach, Talisker Beach, Camas Dariach, Glenbrittle or hunt for dinosaur footprints at Staffin Beach.

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• Lewis has some giant sweeping beaches, look out for Traigh Mhor, Uig, Eoropie, Reef and Dail Beag beaches.

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• The beaches of Harris regularly get voted as some of the best in the UK and even the world!  The most famous include Luskentyre, Seilebost, Hushinish, Horgabost and Scarista.

Another free and easy way to enjoy the west coast of Scotland is to follow one of the many coastal walking trails.  There are loads of options for all levels of abilities and far too many to mention here.  Personally I find the Walkhighlands website to be an excellent resource, not just for coastal routes but walks all over Scotland.

However, here are a few suggestions of my own -

• In Wester Ross take a walk to Rhue Lighthouse near Ullapool.  The path runs for about 3/4 miles from the car park although you could opt to walk the 6 1/2 mile return walk along the coast from Ullapool if you feel more adventurous.  This is a fabulous spot to watch the sunset.

 

• ​Further reading - My recommended things to do in Ullapool

 

• On Skye take a walk to the ruins of Dunscaith Castle on the Sleat Peninsula.   Park in the lay-by on the main road at Tokavaig and walk along the track towards the single white cottage before following the shore towards the obvious castle remains.  The ruins of what once must have been an impressive coastal structure are perched dramatically on a big lump of rock on the shores of Loch Eishort.

 

• On Lewis follow the coastal path from the Bridge to Nowhere near Tolsta Village.  You could potentially walk for over 12 miles to the village of Lionel, however I just walked part of the route and returned back the same way.  During my walk I spotted minke whales, dolphins and porpoises which is why I have recommended this route - just don't forget your binoculars like I did!

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• On Harris, Renish Point is another good option for spotting marine wildlife.  The 5 mile circular route from Rodel passes an old church, clifftop views and a great viewpoint that takes in many of the surrounding islands.

Recently I undertook an epic adventure around the North West Highlands and Islands on a west coast Scotland road trip.  Starting in Wester Ross, I crossed over the sea to Skye before taking a ferry to Harris and continuing on my journey to Lewis.  The circular driving route around the west of Scotland eventually brought me back to Wester Ross where I finished off my trip at one of my favourite places.

This particular road trip took me through some of the most attractive parts of the country and some places that I thought I knew pretty well but it turned out there was plenty more for me still to discover. This was a journey with a difference as it was part of partnership to promote the #WestCoastWaters Campaign which encourages visitors to take the roads less travelled around western Scotland and find ways to immerse their senses along way.  

I do believe that too many people rush around Scotland trying to tick as many things off as possible and don't take the time to really absorb their surroundings so I relished the opportunity to slow down and explore in bite-size chunks.

​Although this west coast route will take you through some of the most popular Scottish tourist haunts, it will also take you off the beaten track and provide you with an original itinerary for exploring these well known places. 

It is worth noting that I started in the north of Wester Ross and travelled south, however this itinerary can easily be adapted so you start in the south at Plockton, cross to Skye and include the Wester Ross section at the end of your trip. 

It is also worth adding that I did this trip in 9 days due to time constraints, however I would make it a 2 week itinerary if you can by adding extra nights in Ullapool, Gairloch, Plockton, Skye and Harris.

I really like Ullapool, it is an attractive little town with whitewashed cottages lining the shores of Loch Broom.  It has lots of quality independent shops and nice places to eat and drink which makes it a popular base for tourists visiting this part of Scotland.  In fact, I have spent 2 separate holidays there myself recently and thoroughly enjoyed both.

​The town has a long connection with the sea and was originally founded as a herring port in 1788 by the British Fisheries Society.  Although the industry has declined, fishing still remains at the heart of the town and the Ullapool Museum is a great place to find out more about the history.

I arrived on a warm September day and the waterfront was lined with fellow tourists soaking up the autumnal sun.  I joined them for a while, sitting at a picnic table with a harbour view and snacked on my tasty haddock wrap from The Seafood Shack.  A place I regularly buy lunch from when I'm in the area.

Although Ullapool can be a busy wee place, it is still possible to find a little oasis of quiet just a short distance from the town.  I took the small ferry boat from nearby Ardmair jetty to Isle Martin, which is currently uninhabited and looked after by the community of Lochbroom and Coigach.  Although no-one has lived permanently on the island since 1949, many people have lived and worked on Isle Martin over the previous centuries.

There is a little museum, walking trails and a quiet beach with views over to the Summer Isles.  It definitely ticked my criteria of taking the road less travelled and getting a new perspective on a familiar place.  Sitting on a rock with a 360 degree view of the surrounding loch, mountains and islands was also the perfect spot to immerse my senses.

I didn't put myself under any pressure to rush around exploring everything in the Ullapool area. Instead I was happy to spend a bit longer on Isle Martin to gain a deeper understanding of the history and people who once called this island home.  I do recommend adding another night in Ullapool if you can and I have listed more things to do in the area below.

FURTHER READING - More things to do in and around Ullapool 

WHERE I STAYED - Aschcroft Bed & Breakfast in Letters was just perfect.  Natasha is a brilliant host and the space is beautiful, clean and comfortable.  The self contained apartment has 2 large bedrooms, a sitting room and shower room.  A connecting door to the kitchen of the main house provides access for making drinks and this is also where breakfast is served which was generous and delicious.

Natasha's dog was my new best friend and I actually felt sad leaving her!  If you like to temporarily adopt dogs on your holiday then this is the place for you!  The accommodation is also situated in a quiet area overlooking the loch which meant I got a great night's sleep.

I highly recommend staying here and if you've not used Airbnb before you can get a £25 discount off your first booking with my personal discount link.