The Great Glen - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 199

The 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. The 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. The
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.

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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 St, next to Leakey's bookshop • Grounds open to public; church open for Sunday services at 11.15am
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. Those 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 west bank, 4-9 Huntly St • Daily 9am-10pm • Visitor centre £2.50, with kilt-making
demonstrations daily 9am-5pm, English-language film shown on the hour • W highlandhouseoffraser.com
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. There's an interesting seven-minute film and on weekdays you can watch