Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Brief history
he sheltered harbour and proximity to the open sea made Inverness an important
entrepôt and shipbuilding centre during medieval times.
David I
, who first imposed
a feudal system on Scotland, erected a castle on the banks of the Ness to oversee
maritime trade in the early twelfth century, promoting it to royal burgh status soon
after. Bolstered by receipts from the lucrative export of leather, salmon and timber,
the town grew to become the kingdom's most prosperous northern outpost, and an
obvious target for the marauding Highlanders who plagued this remote border area.
A second wave of growth occurred during the eighteenth century as the Highland
cattle trade flourished. he arrival of the
Caledonian Canal
and
rail
links
with the
east and south brought further prosperity, heralding a tourist boom that reached a
fashionable zenith in the Victorian era, fostered by the royal family's enthusiasm for
all things Scottish.
Inverness Castle
Looming above the city and dominating the horizon is
Inverness Castle
, a
predominantly nineteenth-century red-sandstone building perched above the river. he
original castle formed the core of the ancient town, which had rapidly developed as a
port trading with Europe after its conversion to Christianity by St Columba in the
sixth century. Robert the Bruce wrested the castle back from the English during the
Wars of Independence, destroying much of the structure in the process, and while held
by the Jacobites in both the 1715 and the 1745 rebellions, it was blown up by them to
prevent it falling into government hands. Today's edifice houses the
Sheriff Court
and is
not open to the general public. However, there are good views down the River Ness
and various plaques and statues in the grounds, including a small plinth marking the
start of the 73-mile Great Glen Way.
11
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Castle Wynd • April-Oct Tues-Sat 10am-5pm; Nov-March Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm • Free •
W
inverness.highland.museum
Below the castle, the revamped
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
on Castle Wynd
offers an insight into the social history of the Highlands, with treasures from the times
of the Picts and Vikings, taxidermy exhibits such as “Felicity” the puma, caught in
Cannich in 1980, and interactive features including an introduction to the Gaelic
language. It also has impressive temporary art exhibitions.
Old High Church
Church Street, next to Leakey's bookshop • Grounds open to public; church open for Sun services 11.15am • Free
he
Old High Church
, founded in 1171 and rebuilt on several occasions since, stands
just back from the east bank of the river on Church Street, hemmed in by a walled
graveyard. hose Jacobites who survived the massacre of Culloden were brought here
and incarcerated prior to their execution in the cemetery. If you look carefully you may
see the bullet holes left on gravestones by the firing squads.
Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre
In the Highland House of Fraser shop, on the river's west bank at 4-9 Huntly Street • Daily 9am-10pm, , kilt-making demonstrations daily
9am-5pm •
W
highlandhouseoffraser.com • Visitor Centre £2.50
Entered through the factory shop, the
Scottish Kiltmaker Visitor Centre
is an
imaginative small attraction, complete with the outfits worn by actors for the
Braveheart
and
Rob Roy
films, which sets out everything you ever wanted to know
about tartan. here's an interesting seven-minute film shown on the hour, and on
