Date spot in Inverness
Inverness Botanic Gardens
Walk through the tropical house and the cactus house, then round the outdoor gardens, and finish with a coffee in the café.
Why it's a good date: The glasshouses are warm and green even on a dreich day, and it's free, with donations welcome. Pair it with a walk round the Ness Islands next door.
Photo: Craig Wallace, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
More from our Inverness guide
Craig Phadrig
Leachkin, on the western edge of Inverness
Address: Craig Phadrig car park, Leachkin Brae, Inverness IV3 8PN- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Active
Climb the forest trail up the wooded hill on the west side of the city to the remains of an Iron Age fort at the top.
Why it's a good date: It's a proper uphill walk without leaving town, and there's a view over the Beauly Firth near the top. Wear decent shoes, as the paths get muddy after rain.
Culloden Battlefield
Culloden Moor, about 15 minutes' drive east of Inverness
Address: Culloden Moor, Inverness IV2 5EU- Trip
- Cheap and cheerful
- Culture
- Out of town
Walk the moor where the last pitched battle on British soil was fought in 1746, then see the visitor centre's exhibition.
Why it's a good date: It's moving rather than grim, and it gives you plenty to talk about on the way home. The battlefield paths are free; the visitor centre charges for entry.
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Clava Cairns
Near Culloden, about 20 minutes' drive east of Inverness
Address: Balnuaran of Clava, near Culloden, Inverness IV2 5EU- Trip
- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Out of town
Wander among Bronze Age burial cairns and standing stones in a quiet grove of trees.
Why it's a good date: It's peaceful and a bit mysterious, and it's free to visit at any time. It's only a few minutes from Culloden, so you can easily do both in an afternoon.
Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
