Historical places of interest in and around Inverness

There have been civilisations in this area for at least 4,000 years. So, there are plenty of places of interest for history lovers to visit in and around Inverness. From the Clava Cairns, pre-historic burial grounds dating from around 2000 BC, to Culloden Battlefield, the 18th-century battleground where one of the most tragic events in Scottish history took place.

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See the locations of historical sites below…

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Explore historical sites below…

Clava Cairns

The Clava Cairns is an ancient burial ground with three Bronze Age cairns, known in…...

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Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield is the site of the historic Battle of Culloden. It was the last…...

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East of Inverness History Trail

Explore the East of Inverness History Trail and travel back in time to some of…...

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NC500 To The Duncansby Stacks

North of Inverness at the very top of Scotland lies beautiful scenery, especially along the…...

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Fort George

Fort George is an 18th century fortress near Ardersier, to the north-east of Inverness....

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Inverness Cathedral

Inverness Cathedral is a large cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Completed in 1869 and…...

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Culloden Viaduct

The Culloden Viaduct is an impressive railway bridge with multiple arches, located on the Highland…...

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Inverness Castle

In the heart of Inverness, the imposing Inverness Castle sits high on a hilltop. Standing…...

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Urquhart Castle

Steeped in more than 1,000 years of history, Urquhart Castle sits on the banks of…...

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Cawdor Castle

Dating back to the 14th century and built by the Thanes of Cawdor as a…...

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Dunrobin Castle

If you travel an hour north of Inverness, you will come upon this striking castle,…...

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Abertarff House

Abertarff House is the oldest house in Inverness. Built in 1593 on the east bank…...

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Wardlaw Mausoleum

Wardlaw Mausoleum is a burial place located at Wardlaw Graveyard in Kirkhill village. Built for…...

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Beauly Priory

This ancient site, located in Beauly village, was founded in 1230 for monks of the…...

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Old High Church

The Old High Church is the oldest church in Inverness, which stands on the banks…...

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Castle Leod

Castle Leod is located in the village of Strathpeffer, around a half-hour drive north west…...

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Balnain House

his historic Georgian-style building on Huntly Street in Inverness city centre dates back to 1726....

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The Preacher’s Footsteps at Glenmoriston

Near Inverness, there's a pair of footprints that have been in the ground for over…...

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Boleskine Burial Grounds and House

The dead rising, shots fired and some occult spells - there's a lot going on…...

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Thomas Telford Trail

Chances are that you’ve already travelled over a Thomas Telford construction, even if you didn’t…...

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Brodie Castle

If you are looking for a great day out and love the outdoors and history…...

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Invermoriston Bridge and Folly

There’s a little village near Inverness which is a bit off the beaten track, but…...

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Foulis Castle

out over the Scottish landscape for hundreds of years. Foulis Castle is best known as…...

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Fyrish Hill and Monument

There is a remarkable monument built about 45 minutes north of Inverness. It stands as…...

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Dunlichity Church and Burial Grounds

The dead rising, shots fired and some occult spells - there's a lot going on…...

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Where to begin

Start your exploration at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, where you’ll discover the story of Inverness and the Highlands, right from its very origins. See how our dramatic landscape was formed over 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Then follow the museum’s timeline through the ages, learning about the many peoples and events that shaped our history.

In the city

In Inverness city centre, we have many historical sites and landmarks. Such as Inverness Castle, Inverness Cathedral, Inverness Town House, The Victorian Market, Abertarff House and Falcon Square. Follow the Inverness Historic Trail for a tour of these fascinating city centre buildings and more.

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Surrounding area

The Clava Cairns is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Scotland. An ancient cemetery, with burial cairns and standing stones. For those interested in the Jacobite Risings and military history, there’s Culloden Battlefield, Fort George and the Highlanders’ Museum. We have several Scottish castles near Inverness, including Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness and Cawdor Castle in nearby Nairn. There are local museums, exploring different parts of Scottish history. Hugh Miller’s Birthplace looks at the life and works of the 19th century geologist. The Groam House Museum exhibits Celtic and Pictish Art. Walkers can climb Craig Phadrig within an hour. This forested hill with wonderful views is said to be the fort of Pictish King, Bridei mac Maelchon.

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