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Inverness
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Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey
and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
By air:
Dalcross International Airport is 8 miles east of the city. Taxis and car hire are available at the airport. Wireless Internet access. The Jet is a dedicated shuttle bus service between Inverness city centre and Inverness airport and Nairn.
- Aer Arann operates a summer service between Dublin and Inverness.
- EasyJet operates cheap flights from London Gatwick, Luton Airport (about 30 miles north of London) and Bristol.
- Flybe operates services between Inverness and Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Manchester, Southampton, Stornoway (Lewis), Kirkwall (Orkney) and Sumburgh (Shetland).
Flybe (in conjunction with Loganair) operates flights between Inverness, Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) and the Isle of Benbecula. Mondays - Fridays only.
- Lufthansa will operate a summer service between Dusseldorf and Inverness.
By train:
First Scotrail operates the 4 lines from Inverness railway station:
- south to Aviemore - Perth and then Edinburgh / Glasgow. Connections to Stirling as well.
- east to Aberdeen via Nairn and Elgin
- west to Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast near the Skye Bridge
- north via Beauly up the coast to Wick
Savings within Scotland can be made with TravelPass & Rover tickets. For example the Highland Rover allows 4 days unlimited travel out of 8 consecutive days on Highland rail lines plus the Inverness-Fort William-Oban Citylink bus service. The Freedom of Scotland Travelpass allowing unlimited travel throughout the country on trains plus Cal Mac ferries and some bus services is available for 4 days travel out of 8 consecutive days (or for 8 days out of 15). For more details and prices see the special tickets page on the First Scotrail web site.
For further details about UK trains, visit - thetrainline.com for timetables and online booking.
By Bus and Coach:
For day trips to Inverness & area from Edinburgh by coach - click here.
For day trips from Inverness by coach to surrounding areas (Loch Ness, Skye, etc.) - click here.Megabus is a new budget double decker bus service operating between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness. Tickets from as little as £1.
The Scottish Citylink coach network operates the main routes between Inverness and other towns/cities in Scotland (e.g. Fort Augustus, Fort William, Oban, Skye, Ullapool, Wick, Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, etc.). Visit their web site for timetables. You may be able to benefit from the Explorer Pass which offers for unlimited travel between certain dates. Discount tickets (Smart Cards) are available for travellers over 50 and for students aged 16-25.
Stagecoach Buses operate on local routes (e.g. Inverness city centre, Strathpeffer, Beauly, Cromarty, Dingwall, etc.). These timeables can be obtained from Inverness bus station or consult travelinescotland.com
Tim Dearman Coaches operate a service from Inverness to Dingwall, Strathpeffer and Ullapool which then continues northwards to Lochinver, Scourie and Durness (Smoo Cave). This is available Mondays to Saturdays 26th April 2010 to 25th Sept 2010, and Sundays 4th July to 29th August including all holidays. Bicycles can be carried. Departs Inverness bus station at 8.50am, returns to Inverness approx. 7.45pm. You can get hop on / hop off tickets to spread your travels over 6 days to allow you more time to explore. Tel: 01349 883585. See web site for complete timetable.
The Orkney Express Bus operates between Inverness and Orkney via John O'Groats. Every day from 1 May to 2 September. Booking recommended.
Nor'West Tours offers 3 day coach/train travel packages to Orkney from Inverness.
ScotBus operates a daily service from Inverness to Inverewe Gardens (end May - end September) via Achnasheen, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Poolewe, etc.
Mileages by road:
- Edinburgh - Inverness: 157 miles
- Glasgow - Inverness: 174 miles
- Inverness - Fort William: 65 miles
- Inverness - Ullapool: 57 miles
To calculate driving distances and routes from A to B, use the RAC route planner.
Self-Drive Tours:
Based in Nairn, Scotland Made Easy can plan a customised itinerary for a self-drive tour to suit your interests, budget and time available. Advance booking required. They will book you into recommended accommodation where you are assured of quality, comfort and hospitality - usually in 4 star B&Bs in Scottish homes. Optional 'specials' include a night in a castle, church, lighthouse, country mansion, etc.
Whether you have already decided which places you want to visit or if you haven't a clue where to start, Scotland Made Easy will advise and take care of all the planning for you.Clansandcastles.com offer itinerary planning for self-drive tours (with car hire if required) and/or accommodation reservations for castles, inns & country houses.
Private tour guides also available. Small groups in a car, minibus or a 50-seater coach can be catered for. Each of the professional guides live and work in the Highlands and are keen to share their local knowledge. Visit Clansandcastles.com to find out how to book your tour in advance.
Vehicle rental
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For instant online booking for car rental in Inverness,
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BHT operates in conjuction with Arnold Clark to offer hire cars and people carriers.
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Dalcross Car Hire is based near the airport.
Campervans / Motorhomes
- Happy Highland Campers - hire a fully equipped vintage VW Camper Van. Based near Evanton, about 20 miles north of Inverness. Pick up can be arranged from locations in and around Inverness. Bicycle hire also available.
- Highland Campervans - modern, heated, 4-berth campers for hire. Automatic and 4-wheel drive. (Based in Inverness)
- Highland Classic Campers have classic Volkswagen campervans for hire (based near Inverness).
- Loch Ness Motorhome Hire: 6-berth modern motorhome for holidays in the Highlands.
Personal Driver-Guide Services:
- Castle Tours offer a choice of sightseeing tours: either scheduled day tours (4 - 8 people), or tailor-made, private guided tours. Departures from Inverness and Aberdeen to explore Speyside, the north east coast and the Highlands. Itineraries feature distilleries and castles, as well as gardens, wildife, Highland Games, etc. Accommodation booking, airport transfers, fieldsports, boat trips, etc., can also be arranged.
- Celia Ffitch-Stewart is a fully insured driver-guide with Mercedes limousine for your tailor-made guided tour. Half day, full day or extended tours. Airport collection (Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness). Services can include itinerary planning and accommodation reservations. Meet your clan chief, trace your roots, stay in a castle, tour the distilleries. Member of HOSTGA (Highlands of Scotland Tour Guide Association).
- Shore Excursions offer half day and whole day sightseeing tours from the cruise liner port of Invergordon or from Inverness. Transport by 7-seater minibus.
- The Taxi Tour Experience is a taxi tour service for cruise liner passengers at the port of Invergordon (near Inverness). Each driver is a knowledgeable guide. Tours can include castles and distilleries in the Highlands, Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden Battlefield. Minimum 3.5 hours. Choice of vehicles including multi-seaters for up to 8 people.
Taxi / Chauffeur / Limousine / Wedding Car Services:
- Highland Taxis have an excellent reputation in Inverness. Available for airport pick ups, weddings, personal sightseeing tours, etc. Disabled facilities. Tel: 01463 222222.
- Cinebus - transport by 7-seater minibus. Ideal for those nights out when you don't want to drive. Available from Inverness, Dingwall, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, etc. for transport to Eden Court, Vue cinema, Rollerball, etc. or for birthdays, hen and stag nights, Christmas. Also airport and rail connections. Contact Nigel Newell - tel: 01862 842260.
- Executive Stretch Limousines offer chauffeur driven pink or white limos in Inverness and the Highlands. Great for weddings, parties, etc. Telephone: 01463 250158.
- Highland Beauford Wedding Car Hire: Beauford vintage (1930s) style bride's car and Jaguar XJ6 bridesmaids' car.
- Highland Chauffeur Drive (based in Inverness) can offer guided tours or airport transfers in cars or a people carrier. Wedding car hire also available.
- J A Johnstone Chauffeur Drive offers a full range of chauffeur driven services by car or 6-7 seat people carrier for individuals or small groups. Available for business trips, sightseeing tours, etc. Over 20 years experience. Highly recommended. Member of the Highlands Of Scotland Tourist Board and the American Society of Travel Agents. Credit cards accepted. Tel: 01463 798372.
- Loch Ness Taxis & Tours has a fleet of vehicles including an 8 seater Traveliner. Available for airport transfers, bus & train bookings, and sightseeing tours around the Highlands. Contact Mark Williamson. Tel: 01463 239876 / 07876688453.
- Taxi to/from Inverness (ideal for sightseeing) Destinations include Aviemore, Strathpeffer, Dingwall, Ullapool, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Portmahomack, Lairg, Wick, Thurso, etc. Also John O' Groats - Inverness taxi service.
Motorbikes:
- Bike hire is available from Highland Motorcycle Holidays based in Invergordon. They can also arrange itineraries and biker-friendly accommodation in the Highlands if you are visiting on your own bike or hiring one from them. Contact Nigel Newell - tel: 01862 842260.
- Mitchells Motorcycles in Grieg Street, Inverness offers spares, repairs, accessories, etc. Tel: 01463 233 478.
Cycle Hire:
Visit cycling.visitscotland.com: the official tourist board web site.
- A Ticket to Ride offers bike hire with delivery and collection (free within 10 miles of Inverness). Helmet, lock, toolkit and emergency assistance all provided. Day trips with route maps are available (e.g. Loch Ness, Culloden & Cawdor). Cross country routes can also be arranged. Tel: 07902 242301 / 01463 792023.
- Cameron Ross of Happy Tours has bikes for hire - booking required. Tel: 07828 154683. The pick point is the steps by the tourist information office in Bridge Street.
- Cycle hire is available from Barney's (tel: 01463 232 249) at 35 Castle Street (go into the newsagents and ask them, it's open from 7.30am - 10.30pm every day). Further up that street, there is a good outdoor clothing/fishing/hunting shop called Grahams.
- Highland Cycles at 16a Telford Street, Inverness are open Monday - Saturday. Tel: 01463 234789.
Boats:
Click hereMaps:
Online searchable maps of Scotland:
- Streetmap.co.uk - click here to go direct to a streetmap of Inverness city centre
- UK Multimap.com
- Ordnance Survey Get-a-Map
Weather:
Click here.
Other pages to visit about Inverness:
Inverness Area Sightseeing Guide (Loch Ness, castles, etc.)
Accommodation
- Sightseeing
- Day Trips, Coach Tours & Boat Cruises
- Local Events
More Photos of Inverness
Local Books & Videos
- Links
Top of Page
Index
Contact
The Internet Guide to Scotland is produced
by Joanne Mackenzie-Winters © 1996-2010
Not to be reproduced without permission
www.scotland-info.co.uk and www.scotland-inverness.co.uk
Disclaimer
Last update: April 2010