Thursday 30 July 2026 (08:00) – Saturday 1 August 2026 (23:59)
Belladrum is a weekend-long Highland celebration of music, craft and family fun rather than just a gig. Expect headline evening performances alongside intimate acoustic and ceilidh stages, street theatre, artisan food traders showcasing Highland produce, and hands-on family zones where kids can try crafts and circus skills.
Quiet zones and seating areas make it easy for families or guests who prefer a gentler pace, while campers enjoy the festival community and late-night atmosphere. Practical tips: gates open early (campers usually arrive Thursday), local roads and parking can be busy so plan travel time, and pre-booking for headline acts or VIP areas is recommended. Great photo opportunities at dusk when the main stage and the surrounding hills create dramatic backdrops.
Hotel angle: offer festival weekend packages, early breakfasts for festival-goers and flexible check-out for tired campers.
Official site: https://tartanheartfestival.com/
Ticket site: https://tartanheartfestival.gigantic.com/belladrum-tickets
Opening 2025 — check the official site for opening events & current hours
The refurbished Inverness Castle Experience is designed to be a compact cultural hub on the city’s hilltop — a contemporary visitor route telling Inverness’s story from Pictish roots through Victorian expansion to modern Highland life. Expect rotating exhibitions (art, local music and oral history), small performance spaces for ceilidhs or talks, and accessible viewing terraces with sweeping vistas across the River Ness.
It’s a perfect short stop for guests who want orientation and a photo lookout before exploring the city further. Hotel angle: promote castle event evenings combined with dinner in Inverness, and reserve tickets in advance for special programming.
Official site: https://invernesscastle.scot/home
Self-guided route — year-round; recommend 1–5 day itineraries starting/ending in Inverness
The NC500 is a roughly 516-mile coastal loop that mixes dramatic sea cliffs, white-sand beaches, remote castles and award-winning distilleries. For hotel guests convert search interest into bookings by offering curated short-loops (e.g., Black Isle & Cromarty; Dornoch & Embo) or longer 2–3 day plans.
Practical advice to include: best months to travel (late spring–early autumn), single-track etiquette, EV charge/fuel points, where to pre-book evening meals in small villages, and recommended daily driving durations. Add value with pre-packed picnics, secure overnight parking and a printed checklist of suggested stops. Ideal for couples, photographers and small groups seeking scenic, self-paced adventures.
Official site: https://www.northcoast500.com/
Site guide: https://www.visitscotland.com/travel-planning/touring/north-coast-500
Daily & seasonal sailings — check operator pages for exact times
Loch Ness cruises are a relaxed, popular way to see the loch’s shoreline while a guide narrates geology, clan history and the Nessie folklore. Operators run short scenic trips (30–60 minutes), longer narrated excursions and combined Urquhart Castle + cruise packages. Many boats have covered seating, toilets and light refreshments; evening or photography-focused sailings are sometimes available in peak season.
Practical tips for guests: book preferred slots in advance, bring warm layers (loch breezes can be chilly even on sunny days), and pair a cruise with afternoon tea or a castle visit for a complete day out. Ideal for families, older guests and visitors who prefer gentle sightseeing.
Site info: https://www.jacobite.co.uk/
Site book: https://www.jacobite.co.uk/tours
Tours & tasting experiences by booking — seasonal availability (check site)
Glenmorangie combines contemporary visitor interpretation with a focus on flavour development and cask management. Expect museum-quality displays, curated tasting flights that illustrate maturation and wood influence, and specialist tours such as “Meet the Makers” that delve into the production choices which define the whisky’s character. Many visitors combine a distillery tour with a scenic lunch nearby and the shop often stocks distillery-only releases prized by collectors. Practical tips: pre-book popular tasting experiences, plan for a half-day to fully enjoy the tour and tasting, and recommend transport options if guests intend to taste. Ideal for whisky fans who enjoy technical detail and food pairings.
Site info: https://www.glenmorangie.com/en-us/pages/distillery-tours
Timed-entry recommended — summer example: 1 Apr – 31 Aug daily 09:30 (last entry 19:15, site closes 20:15)
Urquhart Castle sits dramatically on the shores of Loch Ness and offers evocative ruined architecture, the Grant Tower viewpoint and excellent loch panoramas. Visitors can follow relaxed interpretive trails, climb tower vistas for photography, and learn about the castle’s turbulent history through display panels and interpretation. Best practice: book morning or late-afternoon timed slots to avoid coach peaks and enjoy softer light for photos; combine the visit with a Jacobite cruise or a lochside picnic for a full-day itinerary.
Accessibility note: surfaced paths exist but there are uneven sections—advise suitable footwear. Hotel tip: recommend specific timed slots to guests and suggest pairing with a distillery stop on the return to Inverness.
Official site: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/
Ticket site: https://tickets.historic-scotland.gov.uk/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?c=UCA&cg=TKTS
2025 season example: Saturday 26 April – Sunday 5 October 2025, daily 10:00–17:00 (check site for 2026 updates)
Cawdor Castle is a lived-in historic house surrounded by formal gardens and peaceful woodland walks. The interiors feel domestic and intimate rather than museum-like, while the gardens — herbaceous borders, lawns and winding paths — offer a highlight for botanists and photographers.
Families appreciate the adventure-play areas and trail routes. Practical suggestions: visit in late spring or early autumn for the best garden colour, pair with lunch in a nearby village or a riverside walk, and check for special garden events or guided tours that may require advance booking. Ideal for couples, garden lovers, and families seeking a relaxed half-day.
Site info: https://www.cawdorcastle.com/
Ticket site: https://cawdorcastle.digitickets.co.uk/category/33769
Visitor Centre typical hours 09:00–17:00 (battlefield & trails open daily) — check site for seasonal variations
Visiting Culloden is a reflective, educational experience — the visitor centre’s exhibits and 360° battle theatre set the historical scene while the battlefield trails allow visitors to walk the moor where the final pitched battle of the Jacobite Rising took place in 1746. The interpretation is sensitively handled with audio guides, clan memorials and informative panels. Allow 1.5–3 hours for a comfortable visit including the trail; combine Culloden with a nearby distillery or castle to create a varied half-day. Accessibility: check the visitor centre guidance for the most suitable routes for mobility-impaired visitors. For hotel guests recommend guided tour times and local transport options.
Site info: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden
Ticket info: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culloden/planning-your-visit
Sunday 8 March 2026 (Half Marathon starts 12:30)
The Inverness Half Marathon is a lively spring race through city streets and riverside paths, attracting local clubs, visiting runners and families (via the 5K and fun runs). It’s easy to cater to participants with runner-focused hospitality: pre-race breakfasts, secure bag drop, dedicated parking/arrival tips, and late check-outs for weary runners.
For spectators provide maps of the best vantage points, café suggestions and estimated finish times. Hospitality packages combining easy-to-prepare evening meals and a good breakfast will appeal strongly to participants booking rooms.
Site info: https://invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk/
Typical festival weekend in late September (example: 28 September 2025 — check site for 2026 dates)
The Loch Ness Marathon is widely known for its breathtaking course along the eastern shore of Loch Ness, finishing in Inverness. The Festival of Running adds shorter races, family events and an expo, making the weekend attractive to diverse fitness levels. Runner-oriented hotel offers (secure equipment storage, extended breakfast windows, recovery suggestions and shuttle info) are valuable. Spectator guidance (shuttle maps, best cheering points) and combined itineraries (post-race scenic cruises or castle visits) make the stay memorable for both runners and their supporters.
Official site: https://lochnessmarathon.com/
Event info: https://lochnessmarathon.com/event/loch-ness-marathon/
Visitor centre seasonal hours (example Apr–Nov) — tour start times vary; pre-book recommended
Tomatin provides approachable, small-group tours that explain the whisky process from barley to bottle. Tours usually include a walkthrough of the mash and still areas, clear interpretation about fermentation and distillation, and a tutored tasting of core expressions. For enthusiasts there are occasional premium experiences such as cask tastings or blending workshops.
Practical notes: mid-morning tours are less likely to coincide with coach arrivals, ask about a “driver’s dram” option if one guest in the party will be driving, and allow time to browse the distillery shop for limited-release bottles. Great for couples, mixed-experience groups and guests who want an informative but relaxed whisky visit.
Book info: https://tomatin.com/tours/
Site info: https://tomatin.com/
Sunday 8 March 2026 (Half Marathon starts 12:30)
The Inverness Half Marathon is a lively spring race through city streets and riverside paths, attracting local clubs, visiting runners and families (via the 5K and fun runs). It’s easy to cater to participants with runner-focused hospitality: pre-race breakfasts, secure bag drop, dedicated parking/arrival tips, and late check-outs for weary runners.
For spectators provide maps of the best vantage points, café suggestions and estimated finish times. Hospitality packages combining easy-to-prepare evening meals and a good breakfast will appeal strongly to participants booking rooms.
Site info: https://invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk/
