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The pond at Whin Park, dark conifers mirrored in still water under a blue sky.
Inverness

Whin Park

A family park by the River Ness in Inverness, with a boating pond, a big adventure playpark, a miniature railway and a café.

Welcome

On the west bank of the River Ness, beside the Ness Islands, Whin Park is where Inverness brings its children.

There is a pond ringed with dark conifers, where you can hire a rowing boat. There is a big adventure playpark of wooden towers, bridges and a tube slide, with a wooden ship to clamber on, and a kiosk for coffee and ice cream.

The star for small children is the railway. The Ness Islands Railway, the most northerly public miniature railway in Britain, carries passengers on a run of more than half a mile through the park behind little locomotives. It has been running since 1983, and since 2019 it has been run by Highland Hospice, so every ride helps. Trains run from Easter to October, at weekends and every day in the school holidays.

Look out for the old footbridge in the park: it once crossed to the Ness Islands, and was rescued and rebuilt here.

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Arrives at 5am every day.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A short drive awayXOKO Bakehouse6 min by roadSee itXOKO Bakehouse
Before you go

The park is open at any time.

The miniature railway runs from Easter to late October, at weekends in term time and every day in the school holidays, 11am to 4pm.

Where
Bught Road, Inverness, IV3 5TH.
Railway
Easter to October; £3 a ride.
Also
Boating pond and playpark.

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Where it is

On Bught Road on the west side of the River Ness, beside the Ness Islands, IV3 5TH.

Close byInverness.
  1. Inverness Botanic GardensInverness Botanic GardensGlasshouses along Bught Lane.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Passengers on the upper deck of a Loch Ness by Jacobite tour boatJacobite Loch Ness CruisesUnder a mile 3 min by road
  3. Eden Court Theatre and CinemaEden Court Theatre and Cinema1 mile 4 min by road
  4. Inverness CathedralInverness CathedralSt Andrew's Cathedral on the River Ness in Inverness: a pink freestone Gothic cathedral of 1866 to 1869, open every day of the year.1 mile 5 min by road
  5. River Ness WalkRiver Ness WalkThe riverside walk.2 miles 6 min by road
  6. Aerial view of the River Ness splitting around wooded islands towards Inverness and the Moray FirthNess IslandsThe wooded islands next door.2 miles 7 min by road
Directions
Red sandstone cathedral with Gothic arched windows and a carved entrance porchAttractionsSt Andrew's Cathedral1.3 miles
A tray of sponge cakes dusted with icing sugar and filled with jam and cream.CafeHarry Gow1.4 miles
Corner entrance of Rocpool restaurant with black canopy and menus displayed outsideRestaurantsRocpool1.4 miles
Xoko Bakehouse and Coffee Bar shopfront with a chalkboard brunch menu displayed outsideCafeXOKO Bakehouse1.5 miles
Curved building with large "Imaginarium" banner above a wooden fenceAttractionsInverness Museum and Art Gallery1.6 miles
Castlegallery shopfront with hanging flower baskets above the window displayShoppingCastle Gallery1.6 miles
Crispy-skinned salmon fillet on risotto, garnished with pea shoots and herb oilRestaurantsThe Mustard Seed1.6 miles
Sliced bread in a wooden bowl beside butter and a gin glassRestaurantsMcBain's by the River1.6 miles
Kitchen Brasserie restaurant with orange awning and windbreak barriers on street cornerRestaurantsThe Kitchen1.7 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

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

A white harled cottage with a slated roof and gabled porch sits behind a garden of wildflowers, a table and chairs on the patio.Garden Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Dores
  • 5 miles from Whin Park
Check datesA stone cottage with a slated roof and dormer windows sits behind a gravel drive, ivy covering one gable end.Ivy Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Dores
  • 5 miles from Whin Park
Check datesA stone steading with green shutters and a slated roof sits beside a gravel drive, mature trees framing the entrance.South Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Inverness
  • 5 miles from Whin Park
Check datesA pink harled house with turreted gables and stepped chimneys stands among pine trees behind a dry stone wall.Gatehouse Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Dores
  • 5 miles from Whin Park
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in InvernessAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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