Last stop on our tour of Scotland was the Inverness, where Kemey and I spent most of our three-day visit hiking in and around town and through wilderness areas within easy reach of the city.
As mentioned in my last post, our Vauxhall Mokka X proved a handy asset for handling the back roads and country lanes of the Highlands. Likewise, compact Inverness turned out to be a smart base for starting off on our explorations and a much-appreciated haven to head back to after mucking about in the woods for most of the day.
From Fortrose on the Moray Firth to Loch an Eilein in the heart of the Cairngorms, the range of beauty spots that are only about an hour or so away from Inverness is vast. But two of our walks in particular remain most worthy of mention: one just a leisurely stroll away from our in-town accommodation and the other rather more remote but well worth our efforts to see.
Ness Islands
A picture perfect set of two wooded isles in the midst of the River Ness and just south of the city centre, Ness Islands form a lovely little park connected to each other and the mainline by two Victorian suspension bridges. Hand-in-hand wanders here were a delight, especially at sunset.
More info at visitinvernesslochness.com.
Loch Affric Circuit
The 18km (11.25m) loop around Loch Affric is said to be one of the most gorgeous walks in Scotland. I’m no authority on the subject but would find it hard to dispute the claim based on the views we took in during our hike of the circuit. The trail wasn’t difficult to follow and was mostly level; though we did have to splash across a few small streams and trudge through some very muddy patches. North side of the loch was a lot trickier and ickier than the south. Be sure to dress in layers and wear sensible waterproof boots when you go! Drive time from Inverness to the Loch Affric Circuit Car Park is about an hour and a half.
More at walkhighlands.co.uk.
Highland Apartments by Mansley
Our home in Inverness was at Highland Apartments by Mansley. The self-catering luxury apartment in the heart of town was spacious with an ace kitchen, lovely bathrooms, big comfy bed, secure garage parking, and (my favourite bit) an expansive terrace right on the River. Restaurants, pubs, shops et al were steps from our building. Kemey and I both really loved staying here and would be inclined to do so again.
Find out more at bymansley.com.
Keep an eye out for more Falling for Scotland posts coming soon.
