Travel guide – inverness
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Overview
Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands; the town itself has not got much to shout about but nearby are some interesting attractions. Twenty miles (32km) east of Inverness is the low-key resort of Nairn, on the Moray Firth, with its long white beaches and championship golf course, venue of the 1999 Walker Cup. Nearby is the magnificent Cawdor Castle that was featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Fort George, one of several Hanoverian bastions erected in the wake of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. The infamous battle and ensuing massacre that ended in Bonne Prince Charlie’s uprising took place on the outskirts of Inverness at Culloden and was the last major battle to take place on British soil. Fort George is one of the most outstanding military fortifications to be found anywhere in Europe. Designed to intimidate the Jacobite Highlanders, Fort George has never seen a shot fired in anger, although today, more than 200 years after it was completed, it is still a working garrison. There is an interesting visitors centre in Culloden, which tells the story of the Jacobite uprising.
Attractions in Inverness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is situated in the Great Glen that links Inverness on the East coast to Fort William in the West. The most famous lake is 24 miles (39km) long, half a mile (1km) wide and 700ft (213m) deep and is home to the legendary monster which many claim to have glimpsed from the shore. There are fine walks around the mountains and glens that surround the loch and many head for the scenic ruins of Urquhart Castle or the Nessie exhibition at Drumnadrochit. The four lochs that make up the Great Glen are linked by the Caledonian Canal, which was built in the early 1800s to enable ships to pass from the North Sea to the Atlantic without having to navigate Scotland’s harsh North coast. The most traditional and comfortable way to travel along the glen is by boat, and a flotilla of canoes, yachts and cruising boats are available for hire in Inverness and Fort William. The more energetic may opt to walk or cycle along the 70-mile (113km) Great Glen Way. The walk will take four to seven days.
Climate
Generally, Scotland is cool, damp and cloudy, but daily weather is unpredictable and extremely changeable. January and February are the coldest months, averaging 41°F to 45°F (5°C to 7°C), and summer has average temperatures of 66°F (19°C) during its warmest months of July and August. Scottish weather is on average cooler than that of England. The coldest areas are the highlands and the northern latitude means short winter days and very long summer evenings. The east coast experiences more sunshine, but colder winters, compared to the west.
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