Inverness - Home to the Loch Ness Monster

Inverness is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom, and is world famous for the nearby Loch Ness which has long been rumored to contain a mysterious large creature known as Nessie. Inverness is a dour place in the Winter, but in the summer, the weather is generally very pleasant, and the city provides the perfect place from which to explore the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands as well as being the main center of population for the region and a place that offers plenty of small local attractions to enjoy during your visit.

One of the highlights of any visit to Scotland's most northerly city is the opportunity to spend some time on the banks of Loch Ness. This huge lake, which is the largest in the country, is surrounded by rolling hills and wilderness landscapes that welcome the adventurous traveler who wants to be able to explore the area. Aside from the mythical monster, there are numerous wild animals in the region including many deer, eagles and even a pack of wolves that have been introduced by one of the local landowners. A gillie will be able to arrange a nature walk through the glens in order to help you to see the wildlife, and thanks to their long experience of tracking the creatures will be able to more or less guarantee that you can see them for yourself.

There are a number of highland castles within easy reach of Inverness including the most famous ruins in the country at Urquhart Castle. This rugged tower on the banks of the lake is famous as the best place from which to see the monster, although it is also a very picturesque building that seems to encapsulate the rugged beauty of the area.

Inverness itself is the center of the Highland wool industry, and is a great place to spend some time exploring the local crafts. Aside from locally made clothes such as tweed, there are also a number of small local galleries that sell art painted in the region. The mountainous landscapes are truly inspirational, and have led to many famous painters working the region. The landscapes are such that even a bad painting can be a thing to enjoy, and there are plenty of places to find such works.

In winter there are a number of small mountain ski resorts close to Inverness, and one of the larger Scottish skiing resorts, Aviemore is within reach of the city if you are interested in visiting. The slopes are generally passable through until April, and there are several challenging routes to choose from in the area making the region a good alternative to some of the more commercial Alpine resorts in mainland Europe.