The Scottish Highland city of Inverness is set in some of the most incredible countryside in Scotland. In and around the city are many places associated with historic Scotland, frequently these sites saw an immeasurable amount of suffering and violence. Happily the city of Inverness has a incredible number of tourist attractions (and the number is continually increasing). In the paragraphs below I discuss three places to visit in Inverness Inverness Castle, Beauly Priory and Inverness Museum & Art Gallery:
Beauly Priory
It was in the Thirteenth century that Valliscaulian Monks founded a community at Beauly Priory. Unfortunately no-one can say the accurate date of the foundation of the settlement but it is commonly accepted that is was sometime around 1230. At that time Sir John Bisset, whose lands were almagamated with the Fraser’s of Lovat, was the landowner and patron of Beauly. The French monks and Bisset are those who named the place Beauly, from the French ‘beau lieu’ meaning ‘beautiful place’. Sadly, the priory at Beauly was abandoned after the Scottish Reformation and stone blocks were thieved for use the construction of other structures. In 1913 the priory ruins were passed into state hands and it is now cared for by Historic Scotland.
Inverness Castle
Over time there have been various structures where Inverness Castle is today, evidence shows that the site had a structure there as far back as 1057. King Robert I of Scotland almost destroyed the very first Inverness Castle. The current castle was designed and built , in 1836, by William Burn. The bold building, of red sandstone, is perched high on a cliff looking down over the the cathedral on the opposite side and the River Ness. King James I of Scotland conducted parliament at Inverness Castle in the year 1427, and instructed all the Northern Chieftains to attend. Shockingly three of these chieftains were eventually executed for supporting an independent sovereignty.
Inverness Museum
Situated in the middle of Inverness is the newly refurbished Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which is well worth a visit especially if the weather is wet and windy. Inside the museum visitors can enjoy Scottish History and discover how the Highlands are associated with the rest of the world. You can also learn about the folk of the Highlands, their culture and traditions. There are a lot of different collections featuring, wildlife, archaeology, textiles, crafts, costumes and fine arts.
If you are considering taking a vacation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain this year and you hope to spend some time in Scotland, have a think about spending a few days staying in Inverness. Finding Inverness hotel accommodation online is relatively easy as the vast majority of establishments have their own web site. Hotels in Inverness, small hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts are always superb and Scotland is renowned for hospitality of the highest order, so you can be certain of have a most incredible time.
