World Travel Answers

Inverness might make sense for a daytrip, BUT when you dont have a car, I dont know what to recommend to do from Inverness. I remember a "Nessie-bus" going around the lake, taking you to a museum, to Urquart castle etc., but that was many years ago, dont know if they still do it, and its just for a single day and mainly for young people.

Well i agree with the comments regarding Inverness, not much to do without a car, nut maybe there is a chance to rent a mountain bike. A trip around the loch is interesting, maybe there are economic day tours to consider, but i really do think that it may be cheaper just to rent a car for one day, just to circumnavigate the loch. Fort George, Queens Own Highlanders Regiment Museum, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Culloden Battlefield are possible places to visit. There are 100 kms of walks around the city, which will keep you occupied. www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/what-to-see/countrysideaccess/pathsaroundinverness.htm then download the literature regarding 'paths around the Inverness city' Edinburgh---Castle, Royal Mile(many interesting establishments between castle and palace), botanical gardens, Princes Gardens, climb Arthur's Seat, Scottish Museum would all be on my list of 'MUSTS' Hope this is of interest to you.

Of course there is some public transport in/from Inverness (and, although it is fairly small, it is a pleasant and interesting place to explore on foot). inverness-scotland.com/visit... There's a hop-on bus: citysightseeinginverness.com... Direct hourly buses to Culloden: nts.org.uk/Culloden/Visit/Ma... Dolphin trips on the Moray Firth: inverness-dolphin-trips.co.u... Cruises on Loch Ness (with a coach transfer from Inverness): http://www.jacobite.co.uk/ And plenty of daytour operators, especially in season. Try the links on this page: scotland-info.co.uk/invernes... You can even make a daytrip to Orkney with the excellent: http://www.jogferry.co.uk/Tours.aspx ...a smashing journey up the coastline to John O'Groats, then passenger ferry across the Pentland Firth and coach onwards through the islands which join Mainland Orkney. If you want to do this (I would, and did) then try to book your ticket before you get to Inverness. I stayed in a b&b, which was absolutely fine but means I can't recommend a specific hotel.

Just made this draft itinerary for wife and self for 3 days starting July 30 Day 1 - Arrive Edinburg by train. Check into hotel and check out the city. Day 2 - Meet Loch Ness monster on day tour by bus. Rtn. hotel & relax. Day 3 - Explore Edinburg Day 4 - Return home. Will repost after finalising.

Davidjo has a good outline of what there is to do/see in the Inverness area. Imho anything to do with Nessie is ugh-making but if it floats your boat, then that's fine. Culloden and Fort George are definitely worth visiting. However, I do think that for one day you could rent a car and do those - one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. Of course, there will be tours but in the end, renting a car may be cheaper and more suited to your needs. Does 3 days in a place mean three full days or two full days with two half days at either end i.e. three nights? What time of year are you going? Who is "we" - husband/wife/children of what ages/grandparents???? Dolphins are, of course, 'seasonal' and 'unscheduled'. Edinburgh: don't know your interests nor the time of year you will be there. Museum of Edinburgh, Museum of Scotland, Queen's Gallery, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, Camera Obscura, St Giles Cathedral, National Gallery of Scotland, Scottish National Portrait Gallery (may be still closed for renovation), Scott Monument, Calton Hill, Arthur's Seat, Modern Art Museum, Edinburgh Zoo, B of S Museum, Writers' Museum, City Art Gallery...... to enumerate just a few. Hotels: too little information at the moment.

On your way to Inverness, if you go via Aviemore, I'd consider taking a night there. The train stops there (not done it by bus - but the A9 is sure to be the route the bus takes) so it isn't a detour. From Aviemore you can get the bus or a taxi to the ski centre at any time of year and either climb the Caingorm or get the funicular. It's a lot more satisfying to get out into the mountains than just watching the from the train window. Aviemore actually has loads of things to do, but I would say I rather liked Inverness too. I've only driven north of Inverness but road and the railway line run together pretty well all the way to Thurso. The journey is probably more fun than the arrival but in summer, in good weather you really do feel like you've gone out into the wilds. There's an awful lot of space and not many people. I love it - in Summer, in good weather at least.....

We (a friend and I both 24 years old ) are staying in inverness in november for 3 full days or is this to long? In edingburgh we have a good idea wath we want to visit thanks to All the tips, but it's inverness we don't know yet, we really want to see fort Georges and culloden. We do love nature and taking walks they told US you can visit falls ?

Oh golly, in November the days are very short i.e. much less daylight and the weather will probably not be good. You must bring waterproof clothing and clothing that you can layer, so if it is warm-ish you can take off layers. It will be very damp and if you are not used to that you will find it very cold. Hat and gloves and scarf are necessary. As you are coming in November, you will not have the light to do both Fort George and Culloden in one day. So you could do one on each day, so that's two days and use the third day to go for a trip along Loch Ness to Urquart Castle. I don't think you will be able to visit inside Urquart Castle as you are coming so late in the season. This is a pity, as it makes a good focal point for the day trip. As the days are so short you must be prepared to have long evenings in the pub or walking around in the dark. In winter, places close down for the season and after 17.00 the shops and so on are closed.

Yes, visiting in November does make a big difference. Orkney won't be possible, of course and the Inverness hop-on bus will not be operating. Do follow Hawkhead's advice about clothing and waterproofs. As you are from Belgium I am sure you already have suitable clothes, so that helps. Culloden Visitor's Centre will be open 10-4, although the battlefield itself is open all the time of course. I'm not sure which 'falls' you mean. Is it the Falls of Foyers? undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/f... It is possible to take a bus from Inverness, but the service is very limited: travelinescotland.com/pdfs/t...

Allright I got some thinking to do now, would like to thank everybody for the help and tips!

dont expect too much from "falls" in Scotland ! I once came to such a "fall" that was nothing else than a heavy waterstreem caused by mountain-water beeing pressing back by the sea at tide or so, I dont remember the name, but I remember I was really disappointed !

Falls of Foyer are not so bad but if i remember correctly you have to clamber down some steps and path which might be slippery, small shop at the top for a sandwich when i was there, but i possibly would break my journey for a day in either Aviemore that has been suggested or Pitlochry. Better you than me in November. Last year from 15-19 Oct i was in Kinlochrannoch, near Pitlochry, enjoyed hiking but all wrapped up as the first snow had fallen. Inverness, Pitlochry and Aviemore can all be damp, dreary places to visit that time of the year!!!