Inverness: The Best Day Trips

Inverness is steeped in history and hemmed in on all sides by awe-inspiring scenery. Step out of the city in almost any direction and you’ll find patchwork moors, fairy tale landmarks, bloody battlefields and stunning landscapes – all of which are explorable on a day-trip out from Leonardo Hotel Inverness.

Isle of Skye
Over 3 hours from Leonardo Hotel InvernessDiscover the rugged terrain and gleaming lochs of the Isle of Skye on a day-trip from Inverness. Dubbed ‘cloud island’ by Viking visitors, thanks to its misty mountains, the Isle of Sky is one of Scotland’s largest . Its majestic geography is enough of a reason to warrant the trip, but you can also squeeze in Dunvegan Castle and the Museum of the Isles if you set out early enough.

Guided tours are available from around £50, and many companies will take you via the legendary Loch Ness for an unforgettable view of that monstrous body of water.


Loch Ness
A 31-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel InvernessHome to one of the most famous beasts on the planet, the Loch Ness has captivated visitors to the Highlands for hundreds of years. Try and catch a glimpse of the enigmatic monster with an excursion to this enormous loch, where you can tempt fate with a guided boat ride or watch out from the safety of a waterside restaurant.

Guided Loch Ness tours start from £23 and usually last around seven hours.


The Battle of Culloden
Just a 13-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel InvernessCulloden Moor was climactic battle site of the Jacobite uprising, popularised in the Outlander series of novels by Diana Gabaldon and the TV drama of the same name. Fans can visit the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to find the facts among the fiction, and see how this bloody period of Scottish history came to a dramatic end. An immersive cinema experience allows visitors to relive the bloody battle, and you can explore the moor were the Jacobites made their last stand for yourself.

Tickets for the visitor’s centre start from £11. Book ahead to take part in incredible events, like authentic re-enactments of the battle itself.


Whisky Bus
Just a 10-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel InvernessWhisky is a point of pride for many highlanders, with some of the very best malts in the world coming from this very region. Whisky Bus aims to introduce malt whisky fans to some Highland and Speyside favourites, with a guided tour of four distilleries, each offering a distinct experience and a dram or two of their finest.

Tours start from £89 and last all day. There’ll be plenty to see along the way with loads of scenic photo stops, from Ballindalloch Castle to an elegant 18^th century packhorse bridge.

If you happen to be stopping at Inverness over Hogmanay, then take a look at our recommendations of what to do in Scotland this New Year’s Eve.