Inverness Castle, Inverness
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
For a long time, I've felt like Inverness city centre has really lacked a tourist attraction that really brings the culture, history and diversity of the Scottish Highlands to life.
Over the last few years, Inverness Castle has had a whopping £47 million spent on it and has gone from being a former sheriff court and prison to a world class tourist attraction. It's something I have been really excited to see On a recent trip to Inverness, I decided it was time to give a visit to Inverness Castle a go. I had no idea what to expect, but I had a couple of hours and I was really excited to see what they had done with the place.
To start off the tour, I headed to the South Tower to take in views over Inverness. Despite the horrible weather on this day, I loved seeing the views around the city of Inverness and further afield in the Scottish Highlands. Another part of the exhibtion that I loved seeing was the incredible rose stained glass window on display. This window came from a church that closed down years ago, so it was amazing to see this part of Inverness city history on display.
Further into the exhibitions throughout the Castle, I learned about some of the cultural markers that make the Highlands so unique. I really appreciate that they didn't shy away from some of the more difficult parts of Highland history, such as the Highland Clearances and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I also loved that there were bits showcasing some of the more niche parts of life in the Scottish Highlands, such as explaining what shinty is and showcasing the stories that make up Highland dancing. There was also a great exhibition in the North Tower about the Scottish Gaelic band, Runrig, which I really enjoyed and thought highlighted the importance of Scottish music to the culture of the Scottish Highlands.
Now I'm going to be honest with you: there were parts of the Castle exhibition that I didn't love. Although I understand that lots of people love learning about the myths and legends of the Highlands and Islands, I did struggle with just how much of this featured in the exhibitions in the Castle. As someone who calls the Highlands home, I struggle with how much people fantasise about the myths and legends of this place when there are so many incredible true stories that are equally, or even more, interesting.
For me, the highlight of the castle experience was actually the very last thing I saw. The Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands exhibition was a truly beautiful sight. In these rooms, there were tapestries reflecting the history, culture and heritage of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, made by sewing groups from around the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Seeing the intricate details of all these incredible pieces of art and the stories they told about the myths, scenery, people and history of the Highlands just really made the stories come alive. Whilst I was visiting this part of the Castle, there were a group of American women who were visiting at the same time and I probably heard them say "wow, isn't this beautiful" about 15 times. It's such an incredible part of the Castle.
Inverness Castle has a fantastic shop if you are wanting to pick up gifts from across the Highlands and Islands for friends and family back home. They also have a great cafe, where I had lunch after finishing in the Castle. I had one of my favourite toastie combinations there (chicken, cheese and barbeque sauce) and a lovely cup of tea to revive me. It would be a great spot to meet people in the city centre, with lots of seats and some great options. The staff were also incredibly friendly and even came to my rescue with a phone charger when my battered old phone died.
If you are spending a couple of days in Inverness, I highly recommend checking out Inverness Castle. It's a great way to find out more about Highland culture and a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy day. My ticket cost £20 which included use of the audio information guide, which really helped bring the experience to life.
Looking for some other things to do in and around Inverness? Check out these blogposts below
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