Inverness, Scotland, UK by Phillip Capper

From a vibrant city feel through to miles upon miles of natural beauty and a number of fantastic examples of Scottish history, it’s the latter two where Inverness and the surrounding area really excels – and there are five reasons why.

1. It’s home to River Ness

The most famous ‘Ness’ in Scotland is without doubt Loch Ness, but there are many out there who believe River Ness – a river that flows from the loch – is much more worthy of a visit.

With banks lined by beautiful buildings, from hotels with wonderful views through to St Andrew’s Cathedral, it’s also home to a staggering amount of wildlife.  Known for its salmon, you can also regularly see seals, house martins and diving birds, with the latter alone making a visit worthwhile.

2. You can stand upon an actual battlefield

In 1745, the final pitched battle was fought at Culloden, when William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland proved victorious over the Jacobite forces of Charles Stuart, instantly stopping any continued attempts to overthrow the House of Hanover.

Combining an exhibition of the battlefield with a great audio tour, Culloden Battlefield is a short drive out of Inverness city centre but is well worth the journey.  Plus, if you’re a member of the National Trust, you get free entry.

3. Plodda Falls is stunningly beautiful

Said to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Scotland, although a popular attraction, Plodda Falls is  visited nowhere near as much as many of the other natural attractions in the country.  A perfect destination for a peaceful and tranquil trip when you’re staying in Inverness, you’re almost guaranteed to be blown away by the natural spectacle.

Inverness reflects in the Ness, Scotland, UK by Imaohw

Whilst the bridge that allowed you to walk across the top of the 150 foot high waterfall has been removed in recent years, it has been replaced with a fantastic viewing platform, allowing you to take in the breathtaking waterfall from a position that you simply can’t do with many others around the world.

4. You can go dolphin watching

It might sound more like daytrip more typical of a tropical destination, but you can actually regularly see dolphins – and other aquatic wildlife – if you take a short drive outside of Inverness to a place called Chanonry Point.

With a lovely beach and a much adored lighthouse, there are some who say they have visited Chanonry Point a few times and not seen dolphins, but there are many, many more who have witnessed the dolphins frolicking close to the shore on a regular basis.

Dophin at Chanonry Point, Scotland, UK by EmPemm

Definitely worth a trip, as aside from the fact it’s extremely likely you’ll see some of nature’s most wonderful animals simply having fun, the whole area is beautiful.

5. Inverness Castle is nothing short of awe-inspiring

Situated on a wonderful cliff top position (and obviously a strategic one when it was actually in use), the views looking from – and to – Inverness Castle make it one of the most charming and unspoilt castles in the country.

Whilst the actual castle itself isn’t open to the public, the grounds of the red sand stone building are and a visit is very much advised, if not purely to get a photo in front of this wonderful Inverness landmark.

As a city, Inverness might be popular and there’s no doubt it has something to offer most, but its attractions might seem like anything other than relaxed and laid back at first.

However, with just a little research you can come across a range of such sights and attractions, with the five here really just a small amount of those you can sample easily in and around Inverness.

Matthew Bettoli writes for holiday cottages Inverness provider Cottages and Castles.

The post 5 Relaxed, Laid Back And Historical Reasons To Visit Inverness, Scotland, UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

A view looking along Glen Rosa, Arran / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by uplandaccess

And as much as it might be thought ‘Scotland in miniature’ is an exaggeration or simply marketing hype, the truth is there isn’t much of Scotland you can’t experience when you’re on Arran.

Arran’s Landscape

Starting with the island’s landscape, Arran is a particularly mountainous isle, not only producing some of the country’s best postcard photographs, but offering a fantastic array of walks for experienced and amateur walkers alike.

From leisurely walks to climbing challenges, try setting off from the village of Blackwaterfoot on the west coast and heading north towards Lochranza. It’s a beautiful walk, benefited tremendously by simply looking left – you’ll have an unrivalled view of the stunning Kintyre for the entire journey.

If walking isn’t your thing, what about a relaxing stroll through one of the islands many beautiful villages?

Home to no more than a couple of hundred people each, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be blown away by one of two things – the sheer tranquillity of sitting outside, drink in hand, watching the world go by on an island that seems to be completely removed from any type of hustle and bustle or the simple friendliness of the people who are so proud of their island and love to share its intricacies and delights with everyone.

And if you’re looking for something a little more cultural or historic, how about Brodick Castle, a castle that’s still standing strong after 500 years?

Brodick Castle, Arran / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Magnus Hagdorn

Anyone for Whisky?

Or Arran Distillery, perhaps, if you’re partial to a wee dram? Although having only been established for just over 15 years, Arran Distillery produces some of the country’s finest single malt whisky and is the only distillery in the whole of Scotland that is allowed to use the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns, on its labelling.

It’s also worthwhile keeping in mind that on top of the island’s ability to provide beautiful walks with stunning scenery, quaint villages to enjoy a relaxing time in and a range of popular attractions, there are also a number of golf courses on the island, courses that have arguably some of Europe’s most favourable backdrops.

The Isle of Arran is one of those destinations that people very often skim over when deciding on where to visit Scotland, as they can feel visiting a more well-known place will be more beneficial to the time they have.

But with so much to see and do and on an island that can at times seem like it’s completely your own, where else in Scotland would you need to go?

Matthew Bettoli writes for Cottages and Castles, who can provide comfortable Arran holiday cottages for your next Scottish holiday.

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