Inverness and the Spey and River Dulnain looking for ideas

[Muskox]

Looking for information on things to do in the Inverness area.

Our lodging has a fishing lake, I am hoping to pay for some beat days on one of the rivers for a couple days. We are there for a week. We are going to go to Lochness and few of the wildlife attractions.

 

[UKHunter]

Deer stalking? What time of year will you be there?

 

[Muskox]

I don't have it booked yet, will be last two weeks of July or the first two weeks of August for a week. Not really worried about deer stalking. would love that, but I have 3 daughters at home and wife that are not interested in that or me sneaking away.

August seems to be a pretty good uncharge over July. I prefer

We are in a cabin/chalet with a fishing lake, I found the beats on the booking fishing website for the rivers. Just trying to figure out what to do with ourselves for a week. Probably only fish the river one day. Fish the lake nightly from the cabins.

I want to drive, but I think we are going to fly to Edinburgh from Frankfurt.

This is what I found so far.
Balmoral tea
Highland safari park
Loch Ness
Maybe a falconry day (I can't figure out exactly what this is, I don't think it is hunting) and they want 700 pounds for 5 people for 3 hours.
some castles 1 or 2 (but honestly we have castles in Germany) so not a lot of castle interest here.
Looks like the livestock shows are in June, so probably not that.
Have a haggis or two
Drink a single malt or two
Just not think about our jobs for a week!

Going to Iceland in a couple of weeks, and figured we'd spend a week in Scotland this summer when it got hot in Germany.

How is the Islamic rape gangs/stabber gangs situation in the Scottish countryside? We are getting a bit of that here in Germany, but almost entirely in the Mannheim, and the bigger cities.

We will be in Edinburgh the last morning. If it works to do the zoo, and a gun shop or two.

We normally go to Lapland in the summer. We will again next year, we just have not done anything in Scotland ever. So this year it is time.

 

[Borderer]

I don't have it booked yet, will be last two weeks of July or the first two weeks of August for a week. Not really worried about deer stalking. would love that, but I have 3 daughters at home and wife that are not interested in that or me sneaking away.

August seems to be a pretty good uncharge over July. I prefer

We are in a cabin/chalet with a fishing lake, I found the beats on the booking fishing website for the rivers. Just trying to figure out what to do with ourselves for a week. Probably only fish the river one day. Fish the lake nightly from the cabins.

I want to drive, but I think we are going to fly to Edinburgh from Frankfurt.

This is what I found so far.
Balmoral tea
Highland safari park
Loch Ness
Maybe a falconry day (I can't figure out exactly what this is, I don't think it is hunting) and they want 700 pounds for 5 people for 3 hours.
some castles 1 or 2 (but honestly we have castles in Germany) so not a lot of castle interest here.
Looks like the livestock shows are in June, so probably not that.
Have a haggis or two
Drink a single malt or two
Just not think about our jobs for a week!

Going to Iceland in a couple of weeks, and figured we'd spend a week in Scotland this summer when it got hot in Germany.

How is the Islamic rape gangs/stabber gangs situation in the Scottish countryside? We are getting a bit of that here in Germany, but almost entirely in the Mannheim, and the bigger cities.

We will be in Edinburgh the last morning. If it works to do the zoo, and a gun shop or two.

We normally go to Lapland in the summer. We will again next year, we just have not done anything in Scotland ever. So this year it is time.

Inverness is totally safe. Almost totally, it does have a fairly bad drug problem and the city is a bit run down but the only thing that would worry me if the ticks.

Newtonmore Folk museum is well worth a visit.

It will be busy with tourists but a perfect time of year to go. Can be very warm.

If you want authentic food try a white pudding supper from a fish and chip shop with Irn Bru - it cuts through the grease perfectly.

 

[Bandera]

Several good distilleries near there, The Singleton, Tomatin to name a couple.
The Stone circles,
Culloden battle field.
To name a few things.

 

[Borderer]

Just a few more thoughts - on the way up or down, we loved the Pitlochry salmon ladder as children. Blair Castle and the Maiden’s Leap waterfall are good.

Dunked is a nice little town and also home to Daniel Fraser and John Dickson etc - probably the finest gunmakers in Scotland.

Also House of Bruar for clothes shopping and smarter food or Ballanluig Motor Grill for authentic greasy fried Scottish food (the German equivalent is probably Currywurst).

Make sure to try fried eggs on potato scones with lorne sausage at some stage - traditional Scottish breakfast.

I once drove from Perth to Ardgay late at night. The sun setting over the Ness is one of the best sights I have seen. The area around Ardgay is rolling green hills. I drove back very early in the morning and followed a Morgan though the hills. One of the most memorable drives I have had, including the speeding fine.

Inverness itself serves a purpose but isn’t the most smart town.

 

[Borderer]

Just a word of warning as well - the A9 is a very busy road and has a reputation for crashes.

There are speed cameras and hidden police patrols everywhere. A long section north of Perth has an average speed check.

You really need to drive carefully. Everyone I know in Scotland has a story about a crash or a fine on the A9

 

[Muskox]

First off thank you all. Very helpful.

I actually get kind of discombobulated switching back and forth from LRD to RHD and think I am going to rent a Tesla Y so I don't actually have to drive. When I lived in Australia within a few days I was driving RHD no problem. Going to Hawaii fro a week and then coming home almost killed me.

Very familiar with speed robots (and hate them).

 

[Muskox]

Inverness is totally safe. Almost totally, it does have a fairly bad drug problem and the city is a bit run down but the only thing that would worry me if the ticks.

Newtonmore Folk museum is well worth a visit.

It will be busy with tourists but a perfect time of year to go. Can be very warm.

If you want authentic food try a white pudding supper from a fish and chip shop with Irn Bru - it cuts through the grease perfectly.

So I didn't realize that Inverness-Shire and Inverness were not the same thing. The hotel I found has bad reviews, so we are looking for some other options where we can fish.

Wide open to anything anyone suggest.

 

[Muskox]

We are a family of 5 so that is always a challenge here in Europe.

 

[Borderer]

So I didn't realize that Inverness-Shire and Inverness were not the same thing. The hotel I found has bad reviews, so we are looking for some other options where we can fish.

Wide open to anything anyone suggest.

Inverness-shire is the county and Inverness is the city (but very small for a city) There is an airport there as well and the area has surprisingly good trains, but difficult to get around without a car. You can see a lot of the highlands from a train and there are a lot of stations in small towns or villages.

Most of the bigger towns in Scotland are fairly rough. Limited employment and drug problems etc.

There are some really nice small towns though.

Big mix of accommodation as well. A lot of overpriced tourist traps!

I would have a serious look at Dunkeld - nice town, not far from Edinburgh Airport (about 2 hours or less) and lots to do.

Only on the edge of the proper highlands though and not as dramatic as further north or west.

Argyll is beautiful but more difficult to get to.

 

[Rare Breed]

Looking for information on things to do in the Inverness area.

Our lodging has a fishing lake, I am hoping to pay for some beat days on one of the rivers for a couple days. We are there for a week. We are going to go to Lochness and few of the wildlife attractions.

So awesome! One of my favorite movies of all time The Quiet Man with John Wayne was made there! It is on my bucket list!

 

[MontanaPat]

Scotland is a great country to visit, my wife and I are going back in June 2026 to hunt roe deer and tour. Culloden battlefield is an hour east of Inverness and an interesting site to visit, location of the Jacobite rebellion. I’ve always wanted to do the drive on the A9 north of Inverness on that large peninsula with all of the sea cliffs. Never fished there but should be some good areas, have fun.

 

[ftrovato]

I'm headed North West of Inverness this September (Lock Ness area) to hunt Red Stag, Sika Stag & Roe Buck for 5 days. Very excited!

 

[BourbonTrail]

Culloden Moor is neat, but not much around it, although the Culloden House is worth a visit.

Glenmorangie distillery isn’t too far NW of town.

 

[Russ16]

Culloden is cool.

Drive the new ring road around the north.

Hike up to the Duke of Sutherland statue.

Beautiful country.

 

[Muskox]

I spoke to Glenneagles and Glennmoor about an hour ago. $10,000 for 3 nights for a family of 5 for the hotel and $4000 for 4 nights in the Glennmoor in one of their apartments. The off season prices are not so wild, but then you are there off season.

The problem is I can't find a middle ground. We are a family of 5, and everyone gets really cunty about the 3rd kid without getting a 2nd room.

So we are looking for some apartments or cabins that are mid-tier. I looked at the McDonald company they have a lot of hotels and cabins. But their mid-tier stuff has very low tier reviews. Like moldy and gross as part of the words listened in the review.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I spoke to Glenneagles and Glennmoor about an hour ago. $10,000 for 3 nights for a family of 5 for the hotel and $4000 for 4 nights in the Glennmoor in one of their apartments. The off season prices are not so wild, but then you are there off season.

The problem is I can't find a middle ground. We are a family of 5, and everyone gets really cunty about the 3rd kid without getting a 2nd room.

So we are looking for some apartments or cabins that are mid-tier. I looked at the McDonald company they have a lot of hotels and cabins. But their mid-tier stuff has very low tier reviews. Like moldy and gross as part of the words listened in the review.

We stayed in AirBnB’s back in 2017 for cheap, not sure if that is still an option. It was far more affordable than hotels in Inverness.

 

[Borderer]

Gleneagles is very expensive. I will PM you some alternatives