Ardconnel House
4 Star B&B in Inverness

Inverness

Ardconnel House is ideally situated in a residential street just a minute's walk from the High Street and Eastgate shopping centre. There are plenty of places to eat out in the city centre and along the riverside.

Close to Ardconnel House is the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery which is free to visit. Inverness Castle is currently under redevelopment and not open to the public, but you can still enjoy magnificent views up and down the River Ness and across to Ben Wyvis and the Black Isle from the castle ramparts which are a very short stroll from Ardconnel House.

To explore the city on foot, you can download the free Inverness City Historic Walk app from your Apple or Android store. A booklet is available from the tourist information centre in Inverness High Street.
Children will enjoy the Wild About Inverness City Centre Outdoor Trail Download the free map or buy a Sticker Activity Book of the trail from Ablekids Press on Market Brae Steps near Ardconnel House.
There's also the free Outlander Map of Inverness.
Ask us for details of guided walks as these will take you around the historic sights of the city and the picturesque River Ness with a local guide.
If walking isn't your thing, then hop on and hop off the red double decker tour bus which takes you around the city from May to October.

Inverness Castle

Inverness Botanic Gardens are one of the hidden gems of the city. The gardens and cafe are open daily all year round. You will find them just a short walk from the Ness Islands which are an easy walk from Ardconnel House along the riverside.

Also by the River Ness, Inverness Cathedral is open daily (donations welcome).

The Moray Firth Dolphins can be a highlight of any visit to the area. Watch them from the shore at Chanonry Point (just north of Inverness on the Black Isle) or take a boat trip with Dolphin Spirit from Inverness Marina.

Inverness Cathedral in spring time

Events 2024

There is a wide range of events throughout the year in the city and surrounding area including Etape Loch Ness (28 April), Inverness Classic Vehicle Show (tbc mid May), Inverness Performance Car Show at Dores (19 May), Ness Gin Fest at Inverness Ice Rink (25 May), The Gathering (music festival in Inverness on 1 June), Inverness Highland Games (13 July), Belladrum music festival (25 - 27 July), Black Isle Show (1 August), Highland Field Sports Fair at Moy Hall between Aviemore and Inverness (tbc 2 - 3 August), Strathpeffer Highland Gathering in the grounds of Castle Leod (tbc 10 August), Nairn Highland Games (17 August), Glenurquhart Highland Games at Drumnadrochit (24 August), Northern Meeting Piping Competition at Eden Court (29 - 30 August), Nairn Book & Arts Festival (31 August - 8 September), Blas (Gaelic music festival in September), Highland Archaeology Festival (end September - mid October), Loch Ness Marathon (29 September), NessBookFest (Inverness book festival - tbc end September / early October).
There are also lots of outdoor concerts scheduled for the summer months in Bught Park and the Northern Meeting Park.
Eden Court Theatre and Cinema has an extensive programme of shows all year round and is just a short walk across the river from Ardconnel House. The summer programme includes 'Under Canvas' with live music on the lawn from July to August.

Pipe band at Inverness Highland Games 2019

Loch Ness

For anyone visiting the Highlands, a visit to Loch Ness is a must. Enjoy a boat trip from Inverness, Drumnadrochit or Fort Augustus, and explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland). If you want more than Nessie hunting, then either take the road along the eastern side of the loch which is much less travelled or head into the beautiful Glen Affric to the west of Drumnadrochit. There are many walking and cycling trails around including the Loch Ness 360 and the Great Glen Way.

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

Sightseeing

Castle lovers are spoilt for choice - legendary Cawdor, fairytale Brodie Castle, magnificent Dunrobin and splendid Ballindalloch are just a few of those you can visit easily on day trips from Inverness.

And if it's distilleries you seek, then there are certainly plenty of those to choose from! Tomatin lies just to the south, Glen Ord to the north and there's also the whole of the Speyside Whisky Trail to explore.

Culloden Battlefield and the Clava Cairns are another must-see close to Inverness. Fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books will be familiar with these historic places which have been incorporated into her novels. You can get some ideas about the area and tips on travelling around Scotland from The Romantic Traveller who stayed here at Ardconnel House during her trip.

Dunrobin Castle, Scottish Highlands

Day Trips

Head to the west coast and you can visit picturesque Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton and the Isle of Skye. Guests without a car can either enjoy a ride on the scenic railway line from Inverness to Kyle or have a day out by bus.
WOW Scotland offers different day trips by minibus from Inverness including the Isle of Skye, Orkney, Whisky Distilleries or Glenfinnan and Glencoe. These tours are popular with guests staying at Ardconnel House.

Eilean Donan Castle

North Coast 500

We are getting many guests who enjoy travelling on Scotland's Route 66 - otherwise known as the North Coast 500. This 500-mile route around the north of Scotland covers some of our finest coastal scenery. It starts and ends in Inverness, and is recommended in numerous guide books including the Rough Guides.

Glen Docherty