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A stone breakwater curves around a calm harbour basin beside a rocky pier, people walking along the path in the distance.
Inverness

Nairn

A seaside town on the Moray Firth east of Inverness, with Victorian villas, a fishing quarter, a Telford harbour, long sandy beaches and famous golf.

Welcome

In 1886 a visitor called Nairn the Brighton of Scotland, and the name stuck.

It sits on the Moray Firth fifteen miles east of Inverness, in one of the sunniest corners of the country, and it is really three towns in one.

The Victorian resort grew up after the railway came in 1855, and its big villas, many now hotels, still line the leafy avenues of the west end, beside the famous links of Nairn Golf Club. The old market town holds the main shopping street, where Castle Square recalls a castle long gone. And down at the mouth of the River Nairn is the fishing quarter, Fishertown, a warren of small cottages behind the harbour Thomas Telford built in 1820, when sixty boats worked from here.

Today the harbour is home to the sailing club, and sandy beaches run away on either side of the river, with a promenade to the west and dunes to the east.

A short drive awayHillhead CafeA small community café in the new town of Tornagrain, near Inverness airport, with breakfasts, brunch, daily bakes and good coffee.16 min by roadSee itChefs in HG jackets slice bread and plate small dishes in a kitchen
Before you go

The harbour, the promenade and the beaches are open to all.

Where
15 miles east of Inverness.
Harbour
Built by Thomas Telford, 1820.
Beaches
Either side of the river.
Where it is

On the Moray Firth, fifteen miles east of Inverness on the A96.

Close byNairn.
  1. Nairn BeachNairn BeachThe sands by the harbour.Under a mile2 min by road
  2. Nairn Golf ClubNairn Golf ClubThe links on the shore.1 mile5 min by road
  3. Brodie CastleBrodie Castle7 miles14 min by road
  4. Rodney's Stone standing in a small wattle-fenced enclosure on the lawn by the drive to Brodie Castle, a walker passing.Rodney’s StoneA tall Pictish cross-slab of grey sandstone standing beside the drive to Brodie Castle, carved with a cross, serpents and Pictish symbols.7 miles12 min by road
  5. Turreted castle with crow-stepped gables overlooking a striped lawn and gravel driveThe Playful Garden8 miles13 min by road
Directions
A curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.InvernessBoath CabinSleeps 4 · 2.2 miles
Culbin Edge, Inverness-shireInvernessCulbin EdgeSleeps 4 · 6.2 miles
Chefs in HG jackets slice bread and plate small dishes in a kitchenCafeHillhead Cafe9.9 miles
ShoppingULY + RO, Forres11 miles
Cafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.CafeCafe 149611 miles
Cannons line the fort's ramparts overlooking the coastline and clock towerAttractionsFort George11 miles
Stone arched bridge spanning a rocky gorge with a narrow river belowAttractionsDulsie Bridge12 miles
River winding through autumn woodland with orange and gold foliageAttractionsRandolph's Leap12 miles
Brown signpost reading "Sluie Walk" surrounded by ferns and woodlandAttractionsSluie Walk13 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the town, and when each is next free.

A curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Inverness
  • 2 miles from Nairn
Free 17–19 OctCulbin Edge, Inverness-shireCulbin Edge
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Inverness
  • 5 miles from Nairn
Free 9–11 NovLiving room with red sofa, patterned ottoman and staircase behindNewhall Mains
  • To stay
  • In Balblair
  • 13 miles from Nairn
Check datesThe timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Inverness
  • 16 miles from Nairn
Free 17–19 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in InvernessAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

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Find out more

For further reading, before you go.