Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOURS
Inverness is the departure point for a range of
day-tours
and
cruises
to nearby attractions, including Loch Ness,
Skye, Orkney and the Moray Firth, where there's a chance to
spot dolphins (see p.419). Inverness is also one of the few
places where transport connections allow you to embark
on a major
grand tour
of the Highlands.
LOCH NESS
Loch Ness cruises typically incorporate a visit to a monster
exhibition at Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Castle. Jacobite
Cruises (
T
01463 233999,
W
jacobite.co.uk) runs a 3.5hr
coach trip (£30) to Loch Ness, including a 30min cruise and
admission to the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition (see p.411).
THE HIGHLANDS AND SKYE
For exploring the northwest, ScotRail (
T
08457 550033,
W
scotrail.co.uk) sells a Highland Rover pass (£81.50),
offering four days of unlimited travel over eight consecutive
days, with many train, ferry and coach routes included.
ORKNEY
From June to August, John O' Groats Ferries (
T
01955 611353,
W
www.jogferry.co.uk) runs day-trips to Orkney (£68),
including visits to Kirkwall, Scapa Flow and the Ring of
Brodgar. Departures leave daily from Inverness at 7.30am.
ACCOMMODATION
HOTELS
Glenmoriston Town House Hotel
20 Ness Bank
T
01463 223777,
W
www.glenmoristontownhouse
.com.
A smart contemporary hotel by the riverside just
a few minutes' walk from the town centre, with muted
decor and a g
ood d
ining experience on offer at
Abstract
(see opposite).
£130
Heathmount Hotel
Kingsmill Road
T
01463 235877,
W
heathmounthotel.com.
Reasonably central boutique
hotel with blingy but comfortable rooms, some of which
have four-
poste
r beds, which all come with Sky TV and an
iPod dock.
£95
Loch Ness Country House Hotel
Off the A82 Fort
William Rd
T
01463 230512,
W
lochnesscountry
househotel.co.uk.
Luxurious country-house hotel, three
miles southwest of central Inverness. Offers modern
Scottish food, fine wines and more than two hundred
malts
, as well as very comfortable and spacious rooms.
£16
Ì
Rocpool Reserve
Culduthel Road
T
01463
240089,
W
rocpool.com.
Only a 10min walk south of the
castle, this acclaimed hotel and restaurant has tastefully
decorated rooms (think white cotton bedsheets and subtle
splashes o
f co
lour), plus a swanky, French-inspired
restaurant.
£210
11
(it was built in 1880) and a nice walled garden.
£78
Ness Bank Guesthouse
7 Ness Bank
T
01463 232939,
W
nessbankguesthouse.co.uk.
Five comfortable if
slightly dated) rooms in a lovely Grade II listed Victorian
house on the river; the in-r
oom
information packs have
handy tips on the local area.
£76
HOSTELS
Bazpackers
4 Culduthel Road
T
01463 717663,
W
bazpackershostel.co.uk.
The most cosy and relaxed of
the city's hostels, with more than thirty beds, including
three doubles and two twins; some dorms are mixed. Good
location, great vi
ews
and a garden,
wh
ich is used for
barbecues. Dorm
s
£17
; twins/doubles
£40
Inverness Tourist Hostel
24 Rose St
T
01463 241962,
W
invernesshostel.com.
Cheap, conveniently located
hostel near the bus station, with cheery, helpful staff. The
downside is that the dorms are a little must
y, and
there's a
slightly institutional feel to the place. Dorm
s
£10
Inverness Youth Hostel
Victoria Drive, off Millburn
Road, about three-quarters of a mile east of the centre
T
01463 231771,
W
syha.org.uk.
Big SYHA hostel with
large kitchens and communal areas, plus six-bed family
rooms and cheap singles in addition to the usual dorms.
However, it's quite far from
the c
entre, a
nd th
e build
ing is
devoid of c
haracte
r. Dorm
s
£20
; singles
£22
; twins
£46
;
family room
£138
B&BS
Furan Guest House
100 Old Edinburgh Rd
T
01463
712094,
W
furan.co.uk.
Good-value B&B a mile south of
the centre, run by former hoteliers. Has a good choice of
spotlessly clean rooms
and
a friendly resident cat. Book
direct for the best rates.
£75
Moyness House
6 Bruce Gardens
T
01463 233836,
W
moyness.co.uk.
Warm, welcoming, upmarket B&B on
the west side of Inverness, with original Victorian features
CAMPSITE
Bught Caravan and Camping Site
Bught Park, a mile
south of the centre
T
01463 236920,
W
invernesscaravanpark.com.
Inverness's main campsite
on the west bank of the river near the sports centre. Has
good facilities, but it can get
v
ery crowded at the height of
the season.
Easter to Sept.
£8
/person
EATING AND DRINKING
CAFÉS
Ì
Leakey's Bookshop and Café
Church St
T
01463
239947.
Prise yourself away from the old books and maps
at Scotland's largest secondhand/used bookshop to enjoy a
