The Great Glen - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 201

between the east and west coasts, joining lochs Ness, Oich, Lochy and Linnhe. Today
its main use is recreational, and there are cruises through part of it to Loch Ness (see
p.197), while the towpath provides relaxing walks with good views.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE INVERNESS

By plane Inverness Airport ( T 01667 464000) is at
Dalcross, 7 miles east of the city; from here, bus #11 (every
30min, 6am-11pm; 25min; £3.75; W stagecoachbus.com)
goes into town, while a taxi (try Tartan Taxis on T 01463
222777) costs around £14.
Destinations Belfast (6 weekly; 1hr 5min); Birmingham
(Mon-Fri & Sun 1 daily; 1hr 30min); Bristol (1-2 daily;
1hr 5min); Kirkwall (Mon-Sat 1-2 daily; 45min); London
Gatwick (4-5 daily; 1hr 50min); Luton (1 daily; 1hr 20min);
Manchester (Mon-Fri 2 daily, Sat & Sun 1 daily; 1hr 30min);
Stornoway (Mon-Fri 3-4 daily, Sat, & Sun 1 daily; 40min).
By train The train station is on Station Square, just off
Academy St, to the northeast of the centre.
Destinations Aberdeen (Mon-Sat 11 daily; Sun 5 daily;
2hr 15min); Aviemore (Mon-Sat 11 daily, Sun 7 daily;
40min); Edinburgh (Mon-Sat 8 daily, Sun 5 daily; 3hr

30min); Glasgow Queen St (3-4 daily; 3hr 20min); Kyle of
Lochalsh (Mon-Sat 4 daily, Sun 2 daily; 2hr 30min);
London King's Cross (Mon-Fri & Sun 2 daily, Sat 1 daily;
8hr-12hr 45min); Thurso (Mon-Sat 2 daily, Sun 1 daily;
3hr 45min); Wick (Mon-Sat 4 daily, Sun 1; 4hr 20min).
By bus The main bus hub is just north of the train station,
close to the public library.
Destinations Aberdeen (hourly; 3hr 50min); Aviemore
(every 1-2hr; 45min); Drumnadrochit (1-2/hr; 30min);
Fort Augustus (up to 9 daily; 1hr); Fort William (up to 9
daily; 2hr); Glasgow (5 daily; 3hr 25min-4hr); Kyle of
Lochalsh (3 daily; 2hr); Nairn (up to 3/hr; 45min); Perth
(7 daily; 2hr 50min); Portree (3 daily; 3hr 15min); Thurso
(Mon-Sat 5 daily, Sun 3 daily; 3hr); Ullapool (2-4 daily;
1hr 25min).

3

INFORMAT ION AND ACTIVITIES
Tourist o ce The tourist o ce is in an unsightly 1960s
block on Castle Wynd, just 5min walk from the train
station (April & May Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm;
June Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm; July & Aug
Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun 9.30am-6pm; Sept & Oct
Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Nov-March Mon-
Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm). It stocks a wide range
of literature, including free maps of the city and its
environs, and the staff can book local accommodation for
a £4 fee. There's also a CalMac ferry booking o ce in the
building ( W calmac.co.uk).
Left luggage Train-station lockers cost £3/5 for 24hr,
depending on size (Mon-Sat 6.40am-7.50pm, Sun

10.40am-6.20pm); the left-luggage room in the bus
station costs £4 per item per day (Mon-Sat 8.30am-
5.30pm, Sun 9am-5.30pm).
Bike rental Ticket to Ride at The Pavilion, Bellfield
Park (daily 9am-6pm; T 01463 419160, W tickettoride
highlands.co.uk) rents out decent hybrid bikes for £20/day.
Equipment Tiso Outdoor Experience at 2 Henderson Rd,
on the Longman Estate (Mon, Tues, Fri & Sat 9am-6pm,
Wed 9.30am-6pm, Thurs 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm;
T 01463 729171, W tiso.com) has a large range of outdoor
gear to hire or buy. There's also an indoor climbing wall and
a path for testing walking boots before you buy.

TOURS AND CRUISES
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.208). Inverness is also one of the few places
where transport connections allow you to embark on a major grand tour of the Highlands.

30min coach trip (£30) to Loch Ness, including a 30min
cruise and admission to the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition
(see p.199).

THE HIGHLANDS AND SKYE
For exploring the northwest, ScotRail ( T 0845 755 0033,
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 jogferry.co.uk) runs day-trips to Orkney (£68),
including visits to Kirkwall, Scapa Flow and the Ring of
Brodgar. Departures daily from Inverness at 7.30am.

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 3hr

FROM TOP DOLPHINS IN THE MORAY FIRTH P.208 ; LEANACH COTTAGE, CULLODEN P.209 >