Castles
in Inverness-shire.

It’s 20:59 in Inverness-shire.

Inverness-shire

Inverness Castle, Urquhart and Ormond Hill.

The castles here tell the region's story from the Wars of Independence to the present day. In Inverness, the red sandstone castle on its hill over the River Ness officially opened to visitors in February 2026, with exhibitions and a rooftop terrace looking out over the city. Down the loch, the ruins of Urquhart stand on a headland over Loch Ness, and you can climb the Grant Tower for the view. On the Black Isle, Ormond Hill above Avoch marks where Andrew de Moray's castle stood, with a cairn and a wide view of the firth. Go early in summer to have Urquhart at its quietest.

Castle of the day18 hours ago

Urquhart Castle.

The ruins of one of Scotland's largest castles on a headland over Loch Ness, with a thousand years of history, the Grant Tower to climb, a visitor centre and café.

Read about it

From the magazine15 hours ago

Issue 12Spring / Summer 2026

Andrew Cowderoy, who runs Boath Cabin near Nairn, says the place to go on a rainy day is Culbin Forest, where the Scots pines give shelter from wind, rain and snow.

He suggests going in through Kingsteps, where the trails are great for family walks or a quick 5K run. Culbin was once shifting sand dunes and is now a vast pine plantation, and the highlight is climbing the tower at Hill 99 for sweeping views across the treetops to the sandbanks. Nairn Beach, a short drive from the cabin, is good in most weather, with a splash pad for children nearby in summer, and at Brodie Castle the Playful Garden Café has soft play and good coffee. 'These places are beloved by locals, simple, restorative, and easy to enjoy during your stay'.

See Boath Cabin · Inverness-shire

From our guide9 hours ago

Inverness Castle.

The red sandstone castle on its hill above the River Ness is the landmark of the city, and after years as a courthouse it is now open to everyone. The building you see dates from the 1830s and 1840s, on a site that has held a castle since the 11th century. Inside, the Inverness Castle Experience tells the story of the Highlands, its land and its people, through exhibitions and hands-on displays. The gardens, café and shop are free to wander. Outside stands the statue of Flora MacDonald, who helped the Prince escape after Culloden, gazing out over the river.

See the place

Quiz7 hours ago

Wallace did not command alone at Stirling Bridge. Who was beside him?

Stay4 hours ago

The Black IsleNewhall Mains7.4 miles

Inverness-shireTigh na Coille Cottage11.7 miles

Inverness-shireGarden Cottage11.7 miles

Stay near Avoch Castle.

The three good places closest to it: Newhall Mains, Tigh na Coille Cottage and Garden Cottage.

See Avoch Castle

From the magazine1 hour ago

Issue 10Spring / Summer 2025

For years, the brown tourist signs in Inverness pointed visitors up to Inverness Castle, which was really the city's law courts.

To be fair, the grand castellated sandstone building high above the River Ness did look like an attraction. But all the tourists trudging up the hill found at the top was a viewpoint and a statue. It was not even a real castle. A string of forts had guarded the high ground since the Middle Ages. The present building went up in 1836 as a courthouse, in the Scottish baronial style that was then sweeping the country, and a prison was added in the 1840s. Now the courts have moved out, and the castle has been turned into a visitor attraction celebrating the spirit of the Highlands.

See Inverness Castle · Inverness-shire

From our guideJust now

Fort George.

After Culloden, the government resolved that the Highlands would never rise again, and on a spit of land jutting into the Moray Firth it built a vast fortress. Fort George took more than twenty years to finish, by which time the threat had passed, and it is still a working army base. Cross the wooden bridge over the deep ditch, explore the recreated barrack rooms and the Highlanders' Museum, then walk the ramparts, more than a kilometre round. Watch the water off the point for dolphins, and look for the little cemetery for regimental dogs.