Inverness is small ("wee" in the vernacular) and no one should expect collections of the caliber of…read morethe Met, Louvre or even LACMA but in addition to temporary touring exhibitions, this facility hosts the Highlander history in art, crafts, music and weaponry. Whiskey will not be found here even though it's tributes are worthy. This assemblage merely hints at the greatness of the Celt, Viking and Highland peoples and encourages further study on your leisure. One item I found of particular interest were the gold neck torcs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torc) ancient warriors wore not only as a symbol of their rank within their community but also a potentially lucky block to a neck-chop sword hack. This is a land with a troubled past. That's probably why they invented scotch. You won't spend much time here but time spent here is time well spent. Dig it? (I was surprised to see I wasn't the first Yelper to review this place so "Cheers" to bonnie Adrienne G!)

Small but perfectly formed,…read more Inverness was my first taste of Scotland and it was surprising and wonderful. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is a must visit in the city. As it's unlikely to be torrential sunshine it's a perfect spot to wile away the hour or so. A really simple and informative exhibition with some really effective interactive touches marking it fun for all the family. I very much enjoyed the taxidermy. If you're a stuffed beast enthusiast, you'll find yourself right at home here. The Art Gallery was in the middle of a reshuffle so was closed during my visit, so add a bit extra time for some highland art. Go get your learning on and have a visit.

One of the best, small museums in the North. Much of the work is carried out by "Friends of…read moreFalconer". A must when in Forres. Friendly ,helpful, knowledgeable staff.

Castle looking other Inverness across the river. Nice Castle and lots of history. Interesting. They…read moreare doing some renovations right now. If your in the area might want to check it out or at least view it from river walk.

Due to extensive renovation projects and remodelling the castle and grounds were closed to the…read morepublic in 2021. So, we could only see the site from a distance. The site is scheduled to re-open to the public in 2025. Fun fact, an illustration of the castle is featured on the reverse side of a £50 note was introduced in 2005 and issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, which

At the Battle of Culloden approximately 1,500-2,000 Jacobite soldiers were killed or wounded in…read moreless than an hour. In contrast, government forces suffered 50 deaths. Just hearing that initial description of the place made it a very somber experience. We had a guided tour of the battlefield that provided additional information and knowledge. There were some highland cows and other cattle on the back fields. They were behind an electric fence at the time of our visit but they were a nice sight to see during this visit.

The Culloden Battlefield was run by the National Trust of Scotland which was a different membership…read morefrom the one we had with Historic Scotland. We opted to book a guided tour of the battlefield which was well worth it with the insights provided by a knowledgeable and outgoing guide. The tour walked out as far as the British Line(red flags) but we later wandered out to the Jacobite Line (blue flags) on our own. Do stay on the gravel paths as the site does contain the remains of those who died in the battle. Another tip, dress warmly for the walk outside as the weather shifted while on the tour and it got quite chilly with some rain. The museum presented both viewpoints on the battle and the two sides throughout which was interesting to see and compare. Photos of the artifacts on displays were not allowed and docents would chase you down or stop you since some items were privately owned and on loan. It was ok to take photos of drawings or placards created by the NTS. Overall a stunning defeat for the Jacobites. Next time we're in Scotland I do want to visit the Battle of Bannockburn site to compare the battle that Scotland won over England.

What an awesome giant functioning fort!!! I really had low expectations thinking it was going to be…read moreboring but I truly enjoyed the audio guide and being able to see all the historic items throughout the fort. The place was giant and we spent a few hours here so plan accordingly. We didn't get lucky with the dolphins but it was a gorgeous Scottish day and I was thankful for that. Quick breezy at the top.

Google maps originally directed us to drive inside the fort but there was a dedicated visitor…read moreparking lot out in front. Inside the fort we decided to head to the back to start our visit. A small and beautiful chapel was located there and well worth a look inside. The demi-bastions were the highlight with panoramic views of the water, Moray of Firth, and Inverness in the distance. Not all of the buildings in the fort were accessible to visitors and were marked accordingly. Highlights for us included the following: Historic barrack rooms were setup to show conditions and how soldiers (and those lucky enough to have their families) lived. A museum delved into the history of the Seaforth Highlanders and even had a room where one could try on traditional Scottish wear such as kilts. The Lego mini figures with their unique Scottish clothing were a hit with the kids but they were all sold out in the gift shop. The Grand Magazine held a huge display of rifles, satchels and swords. Eventhough it was a little bit of a drive to get there, the fort was in very good condition and accessible to visit.

This neat wee museum is well worth a visit when in Cromarty on the Black Isle. Set over two floors…read moreit holds exhibits relating to the previous use as a court of law and jail as well as more general facts about the history of Cromarty itself. There's an animatronic court scene that's really well done. It's dog friendly too which I wasn't expecting and was a great welcome so that Luna could come with us. There's a shop on the ground level too for all your merchandise needs!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the castle and wandering the gardens next to it. We spent at…read moreleast an hour going up and down stairs to see the bedrooms, living quarters, art, and modernized kitchen. The audio tour, available in other languages, was especially helpful. At the end of the tour, when we handed back our audio device, we got our picture next to a Scotsman. He was a little stiff, but that's probably why he let us pose with him!

We toured the gardens first. They're quite beautiful even tho the maze was closed and no longer…read moreaccessible to the public. Then we did the audio tour of the castle. There were many interesting rooms but the most interesting one for me was the dungeon. The areas I visited did not have a lived in feel altho much of the castle is off limits to the public. The gardens are really much better than the interior simply for their stunning masses of color and quirky objects around the corner and down the lanes. We had lunch in the small cafe. There's also a gift shop at the end of the audio tour. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

Absolutely wonderful! A lovely place to really experience Scotland and Scottish history, with pict…read morestone and more